Couturier replaces Giroux on Flyers' top line
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Flyers Report: Broad Street Bull
Couturier replaces Giroux on Flyers' top line
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
Rookie center Sean Couturier will replace Claude Giroux on the Flyers' top line Tuesday in Washington.
Giroux, the league's leading scorer, continues to make progress from his head injury, but will not make the trip, GM Paul Holmgren said. The center was injured when teammate Wayne Simmonds inadvertently kneed him in the back of the head on Saturday against Tampa Bay.
Giroux was scheduled to visit a doctor on Monday morning, but the Flyers did not release the results of any testing. Holmgren said Giroux would also see a doctor on Tuesday.
Couturier, who usually centers the fourth line, played most of the third period Saturday between Jaromir Jagr and Scott Hartnell. He will center that line Tuesday.
Giroux is also expected to miss Thursday's game in Montreal.
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Follow Sam Carchidi on Twitter @BroadStBull.
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This is bad. They aren't releasing test results today and he has another appointment tomorrow? This is bad.— sla6yer- Really hoping Giroux is alright, guy has been a beast all season. Proud of the team overall, playing some good hockey.— shanehockey28
- Simmonds has done more harm for this team than good so far. Get rid of him.— bushmciworlcomenron
- Collisions with teammates lead to alot of concussions in the NHL, just ask Cindy. Don't blame Simmonds. — Sidewinder7
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Relax they are going to be very careful with Guroux with both Pronger and Scheen out with head injuries. Would rather Giroux sit out some games now then to have this issues go all season. SO we allneed to relax and just sit back and watch Jagr get Sean scoring goals andget him in a good place. We still have enough to win game while Giroux recovers and he gets 100% healthy before returning to the ice. LETS GO FLYERS!— srcdaddy1216 - Charlie Scheen plays for the flyers now?! — zwarte piet
- Everyone stop blaming Simmonds. His game is improving a lot lately and I guarentee Giroux would tell you it was his fault anyway for missing the check and falling right in fron of Simmonds. Everyone chill and try to relax.— Flyers2822
- Sam, why not Briere to the 1st line?— Fabulous
- Briere could certainly do the job! But I think Coach Laviolette is trying NOT to break up the other lines.
With that in mind, Courtier's replacing Giroux enables Briere's line to stay together and the 3rd line of Talbot, Read & Voracek to stay together.
The third line is the Flyers little-discussed, secret weapon! Whose talent far exceeds the average level of 3rd line talent in the league. they back-check like rabid animals! Opposing players could tell you what cologne Voracek is wearing that day! - Mostly it is because Briere is horrendous defensively. Giroux is relentless at pursuing the puck when he doesn't have it. Courturier is always on the proper defensive side of the puck, Briere is only really effective when he has the puck. Also, Briere is a shooter and not a playmaker. He would never work on that line. I think Matt Read will be moved over to centre and play a few shifts with the top line, to add a little offensive flair that Courturier has yet to show at the NHL level. — Hexy4GM
- Crosby out too. This is ridiculous. They play hockey for 15-20 years of their lives but every hit now results in a concussion? Is the force generated by these players so great that this is going ro ruin career after career? Guys will only play 5 years now instead of 15-20? They've got to design better helmets to being.— MichaelZoe
- The helmet doesn't have that much to do with it, its your brain hitting your skull, no piece of equipment can stop that, helmets, mouth guards help a little. — Sidewinder7
