Flyers F Travis Konecny Out Indefinitely with Concussion

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

It was a moment that changed the tone of Saturday’s game. The Flyers held a 2-1 lead over the Ottawa Senators late in the first period when Mark Borowiecki delivered an open-ice hit to Travis Konecny that knocked him to the ice. He was left holding his head as he exited. He did not return to the game.

After the game, the only update the Flyers could offer for the rest of the weekend was that Konecny had an upper-body injury and more would be known on Monday, but the writing appeared to be on the wall. On Monday morning, prior to a skills practice feature smaller groups, the Flyers confirmed what could be assumed. Konecny has a concussion and will be out indefinitely.

In the case of concussions, indefinitely is a loose term. Each one is different and symptoms can linger for the better part of several weeks or even months or completely be gone in a few days or a week. For now, the Flyers are not going to make any rash decisions with Konecny, so there is no call-up coming at the moment and Chris Stewart will be in the lineup against Colorado on Wednesday. For now, the plan is that Konecny will not travel with the team on their three-game road trip starting with Wednesday’s game, so he will likely miss at least the next three games.

This is an especially devastating blow to the Flyers at the moment. Konecny has been the definition of consistency this season, leading the team with 28 points and tying for the team lead in goals with 11. With Monday’s practice being skills-based, there were no lines run to see how the Flyers plan to work around Konecny’s absence from the lineup, but it can be assumed that a winger like James van Riemsdyk or Joel Farabee will be moved up to fill the void. 

Myers Leaves Practice

At the end of Saturday’s game, Phil Myers did not see the ice due to back spasms. Alain Vigneault said after the game that this was just precautionary and that Myers would be alright. However, very shortly into Monday’s on-ice session for defensemen, Myers left the ice and did not return.

It appears the back spasms were still an issue and it appears likely that Myers will not play on Wednesday either, leaving the Flyers with no extras on the roster. Robert Hagg would take Myers place on the third pairing. 

The Flyers are expected to have a regular practice on Tuesday before leaving to go to Colorado to face the Avalanche in the first of a three-game road trip.