Gus replacing Grossmann for Flyers
PITTSBURGH -- The Flyers’ defense will have a new look Friday as they try to finish off the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Consol Energy Center.
Gus replacing Grossmann for Flyers
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
PITTSBURGH -- The Flyers’ defense will have a new look Friday as they try to finish off the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Consol Energy Center.
Erik Gustafsson is in; Nick Grossmann is out.
Grossmann has a concussion, teammate Claude Giroux confirmed, and he did not make the trip to Pittsburgh.
No matter how long the series lasts, it appears Grossmann - arguably the Flyers’ top defenseman - will not play in it again. Fact is, there are questions about if he will play again in the playoffs this season.
Grossmann took first-period hits from the Tyler Kennedy and Evgeni Malkin in the Flyers’ 10-3 loss to the Penguins on Wednesday. He played sparingly in the second period before sitting out the third period.
Gustafsson, 23, who was plus-12 in 30 games with the Flyers this season, will be making his playoff debut.
“It’s going to be a dream come true,” Gustafsson said after the morning skate Friday. “My first pro playoff game. A little nervous, but mostly I’m excited, so it’s going to be a lot of fun tonight.”
Gustafsson said he did not know who would be his defensive partner.
Grossmann had been on the top D pairing with Braydon Coburn. Coach Peter Laviolette is expected to have Coburn with Kimmo Timonen; they played together a bit on Wednesday.
Gustafsson has spent time with Matt Carle this season, and he could be paired with him Friday. That would leave Andreas Lilja and Pavel Kubina on the third pairing.
Then again, a Carle-Gus pairing would not have much physicality.
If it's me, I pair Carle with Kubina, and Gus with Lilja.
Coach Peter Laviolette said Gustafsson was not demoted to Adirondack this season because of his performance, but because the Flyers had players returning from injuries.
Gustfasson doesn’t think the Flyers’ lopsided loss Wednesday will have a carryover effect.
“We’re just going to hit the reset button,” he said.
Meanwhile, Giroux said he felt badly for Grossmann.
"I've had a concussion and it's the worst," he said. "You're basically sitting on your couch and you can't even watch TV."
Bryz ready. Goalie Ilya Bryzgalov was making snow angels at the morning skate and seemed loose as he prepared to face the Penguins.
“He’s going to be great tonight, I have a feeling,” Giroux said. “He’s focused.”
Follow Sam Carchidi on Twitter @BroadStBull.
Depth of defense? They have already lost two of their top D-men to injury (Pronger and Mezaros (sp?)) And now Grossman. That's 50% of the defense corps.— jason_VA- I stand corrected on his contract status, but he is a journeyman--nothing special.
Just for the record, players sometimes get injured on plays that are not dirty. From what I could see in the replay video, Malkin hit him shoulder to shoulder, but since Grossman was leaning over, it ended up being a little high.— WhatWhiners - Fellow Flyers fans: Lets stop calling for suspensions. Be real, the league is not gonna suspend its stars unless the hit was egregious. Besides, the Neal suspension did nothing except motivate the Pens to play harder. Just go out tonight and win, forget about the league and who they are or aren't disciplining.— blaqjaq
- Now for the pairing of D-man. Need to Slipt up out slow guyswith a faster guy said Gus with Lilja and Carle with Pavol K. Give each line better speed and some toughness! Now for unfinished business the LFYERS end the series and get time to rest up till round 2 beginings. Hoping that will give Grossmann time to heal up (hoping he will be ready some time during the next round) LETS GO FLYERS!!!!!— srcdaddy1216
- Lilja amd Kubina? Lovely, might as well just put 2 pilons out there. Watching Crosby and Malkin undress these 2 tools will be fun.
Good to see Gus get a shot, but I would argue that he should have been playing ahead of Lilja anyhow.
let's see if Carle can make it through a game without assisting on the opposition's goals.
— Back up the Bus for Gload and Bowker 
Were fcked, they targeted and successfully terminated our steadiest Dman, just like they have been deliberately trying to injure key players all series. Congrats you loser dirtbags, hope your happy. Mission accomplished. Who is your next target Schenn or Girioux? Oh that's right you have already been head hunting them for 4 games. Maybe next shift you'll hurt them.- Oobey Boobey your comments prove what an ignoramous you are. Orpick took one of the Rangers knees out and Tortilla was crying about what a bunch of cheap shotting whiners your punk fool loser city is.
- We have wussy columnists, Carsh**ti and Seravasectomly, they only focus on the Flyers poor play never questioning 5 straight penalties in the 2nd period! Never questioning Malkin and Kennedy hits on Grossmann. Never making the stink when they could. We're just fans, they want to be objective!— skolman
- You bozo, I'm not a Pens fan. If you read my comment, you'll see I'm blaming the style of this team for the lack of respect the Pens are showing. Everybody on here wants Rinaldo shipped away, and are happy with guys like Wellwood and Gustafson being in the lineup. Well don't complain when the Pens run them through the boards, and deliver cheap shots with no fear of revenge from the Flyers. I'm sure Engelland is terrified when he sees Read or Voracek bearing down on hims.— oobeyboobey
- Grossman was a marked man. He was playing injured, and obviously a target. Malkin needs some body part re-arrangements. Bring it home tonight Flyboys! Kick their butts.— dogman5
Comment removed.- Just released by NHL head office, here is Shanahan's explanation of why the Malkin elbow went unpunished:
"We accept Evgeni Malkin's explanation that he had to extend and brace his elbow for impact in order to protect himself, because Nik Grossman's head came at him so quickly and unexpectedly." - I want Malkin squirming like a skewered octopus...— BirdinParadise
- This is like a grade school food fight.— 2smart4philly
