WASHINGTON—There’s no underselling Sean Couturier’s value to the Philadelphia Flyers.
He’s their best defensive centre, he plays in every situation, and he’s an essential part of the team’s leadership group. That’s why losing him for the remainder of the first round series against the Washington Capitals might be insurmountable for the Flyers.
It was nearly halfway through the second period of Philadelphia’s 2-0 Game 1 loss on Thursday that Couturier left the ice clutching his left arm following a devastating hit from Alex Ovechkin. He did not return.
A report from CSN Philly’s Tim Panaccio surfaced later in the evening, stating that the team’s second-line centre had suffered an AC sprain to his left shoulder that would keep him out for the rest of the series.
When asked on Friday whether or not he had an update on Couturier’s status, Flyers head coach Dave Hakstol said he didn’t.
“He’s going to be evaluated today,” said Hakstol before the team held an optional practice.
But Couturier’s teammates seemed all but certain the 6-foot-3, 197-pound pivot would not be available for Saturday’s game.
“It’s tough when you lose a centreman,” said Flyers defenceman Nick Schultz. “It’s obviously one of the most important positions on the team.”
“It’s a huge loss. [Couturier’s] our defensive anchor out there,” added defenceman Shayne Gostisbehere. “He’s such a good defensive forward.
“We’re going to miss him but it’s the ‘next guy in line’ sort of mentality.”
It was Brayden Schenn, who plays all three forward positions, who replaced Couturier Thursday night. Earlier this season, Schenn took Couturier’s place when the centre missed 18 games with a high-ankle sprain from mid-January to late-February. The Flyers went 5-9-4 over that stretch.
“Early on, I thought the first time we were without him, I don’t think as a team we were ready to handle that,” said Hakstol.
Couturier, who had 11 goals and 28 assists in 63 regular season games this year, routinely plays against the opposition’s best forwards. He thrived this season with a 54 per cent Corsi For despite starting more than 52 per cent of his shifts in the defensive zone. He also averaged over 18 minutes per game.
Before he left Thursday’s game, Couturier’s impact was considerable. He had held Ovechkin in check for all of his shifts at even strength and limited him to a single shot on net, which came on the power play.
This was his role for the series. Now it appears to be vacant.
On paper, the Flyers can’t account for Couturier’s loss. On the ice, Schenn is most likely to continue in the role.
“[Schenn’s] commitment to his 200-foot game, his hunger to improve all the little areas of his game as he grows and matures as a player has been impressive and it’s been effective throughout the year,” said Hakstol.
21-year-old forward Scott Laughton, who sat out Game 1 as a healthy scratch, is likely to draw into Philadelphia’s lineup to help take a share of Couturier’s penalty-killing responsibilities.
Despite allowing a power-play goal to John Carlson in the second period of Thursday’s game, the Flyers kept things close by killing off three consecutive penalties in the third period. They were within striking distance up until Washington’s Jay Beagle scored with less than four minutes remaining.
“We came up a little bit short,” said Hakstol. “We didn’t come here to come up a little bit short.”
Adjustments are par for the course. The Flyers have many to make, considering they went 0-4 on the power play and were held to just eight shots on net in the final two periods of Game 1.
The loss of Couturier only makes the task more challenging.
“I think our presence in handling different adversities over the last few months as a team has been excellent,” said Hakstol. “I don’t expect it to be any differently in any situation whether it’s [Couturier] not being available—if that’s the case—or any other adversity we might come across.”
