Flyers’ goaltender Brian Elliott out 5-6 weeks after surgery

The Philadelphia Flyers had to wait till the shootout to beat the Arizona Coyotes 4-3.

Philadelphia Flyers goalie Brian Elliott had abdominal surgery on Tuesday and will be out 5 to 6 weeks, general manager Ron Hextall said.

Elliott re-aggravated an abdominal injury that cost him four games earlier this month in Saturday’s 4-3 shootout victory over Arizona.

In 41 games this season, Elliott has posted a 21-11-7 mark with a 2.72 goals-against average and .908 save percentage.

Flyers backup goalie Michal Neuvirth started Tuesday night’s game against the New Jersey Devils, two days after he made 38 saves in a 4-1 victory at Las Vegas.

Philadelphia recalled Alex Lyon from Lehigh Valley of the AHL prior to Sunday’s game to serve as Neuvirth’s backup.

Hextall was noncommittal as to whether he would pursue a replacement for Elliott before the Feb. 26 trade deadline.

The Flyers began Tuesday in sixth place in a tightly bunched playoff race in the Eastern Conference.

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