By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 
It wasn't long after the Flyers playoff run came to an end in Game 6 against the Washington Capitals when the inevitable was revealed. The Flyers had players trying to play through injury, two key players at that.
Both Claude Giroux and Shayne Gostisbehere underwent offseason hip and abdominal surgery.
Fast forward to early September, the start of the season for a few Flyers who are off to the World Cup of Hockey. Gostisbehere debuted last Thursday in Team North America's 4-0 win over Team Europe. By all standards, Gostisbehere looked recovered, showing full mobility in skating and his energetic approach in the offensive zone. Giroux's debut came on Friday, and while he too looked back to normal health-wise, the game didn't come without an unnecessary scare.
Giroux took a hit along the boards from Team USA's Joe Pavelski and crumbled to the ice. He needed to be helped off and instantly left for the locker room. For a few moments, Flyers fans were left holding their breath.
These are the risks and rewards of the Flyers having players at the World Cup. Giroux, Gostisbehere and five others are getting a chance to get thrown into meaningful game action, which can only help. The preseason is hardly designed for players like Giroux, Gostisbehere and Jake Voracek, who already are locks to make the Flyers. But there is a fine line in the risk of being injured and the reward of getting some meaningful play in early.
So far, Gostisbehere has played in two preliminary exhibition games for Team North America, the third and final game coming on Wednesday afternoon against Czech Republic. Giroux has also played in two games for Team Canada. His appearance on Saturday, one night after the injury scare, was a welcome sight. But with the intensity elevated for the two Canada-USA games this past weekend, and Giroux being at the center of some of the physicality of the games, he will get Wednesday night off as a healthy scratch when Canada faces Russia.
The tournament officially opens with Round Robin play on Saturday.
For both Giroux and Gostisbehere, the tournament is special and should be a treasured memory for each of them in their careers. But at some point, especially with the tournament being so close to the start of the NHL season, health has to come before success. And while playing at full-game speed is a plus and can only help, that threat of suffering any sort of injury is always present. Flyers fans were certainly reminded of that on Friday.
The games will go on, and once they start for real on Saturday, the intensity will go up, the stakes will grow, and every player will be back in action. There will be no more healthy scratches to protect star players.
The Flyers seven representatives can certainly benefit from the experience and the ice time. But coming out healthy in preparation for the season ahead will be more important. That should be the focus for everyone at this year's World Cup of Hockey.
