Gostisbehere hoping to make 'special moments' with Flyers

In the last six-plus months, defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere has led tiny Union College to the NCAA national championship, signed an entry level deal with the Flyers, and played a handful of professional games on the AHL level.

And now, the whirlwind has taken him back to the Wells Fargo Center - site of Union's NCCAA title win in April - for his NHL debut Saturday night against the Detroit Red Wings.

"It's definitely been a ride, for sure," the soft-spoken Gostisbehere said after the morning skate on Saturday at the Wells Fargo Center. "But you just have to stay humble and stay focused. Again, just getting here is very nice, but of course you want to have some special moments here. It's a great ride, and I hope it keeps going."

Gostisbehere, 21, said he was a little surprised by the call-up - general manager Ron Hextall has been preaching patience with his young prospects - "but injuries happen, and when your number's called up, you jump up and do the best that you can."

The swift-skating defenseman will be paired with Luke Schenn. He will also be on the team's second power-play unit, alongside Michael Del Zotto.

If Gostisbehere stayed here for four weeks, he could give the brass second thoughts about sending him back to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

"They told me just to keep in simple and just try to get some quality minutes," said Gostisbehere, whose parents and grandparents will travel from Florida to attend Saturday's game. "I'm not looking too far ahead. I'm just taking this day by day. It's new to me. I mean, being in the NHL is a lifelong dream for me ever since I laced up the skates for the first time."

Hextall said the player they call "Ghost" was "here day-to-day. Let's get that out there."

Hextall said he would watch Gostisbehere "like a hawk" and if he's not ready, he will go back to the Phantoms.

Playing Saturday against Red Wings stars like Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk will be interesting, Gostisbehere said.

"I'm pretty sure we've all Youtubed Datsyuk's amazing goals on the computer," Gostisbehere said. "It's going to be an eye-opener facing him out there."

Several Flyers told Gostisbehere to be himself and have fun on the ice in his debut.

"It's a good memory. You play a lot of games in your career, but the first one is the one you remember the most," said captain Claude Giroux, who made his debut in Ottawa, his hometown city. "He just needs to relax and play his game."

Gostisbehere was promoted after the Flyers learned that Braydon Coburn and Andrew MacDonald - who compose their top pairing on defense - would miss about four weeks with foot injuries.

Giroux said the players were focusing on who was IN the lineup, not who was out of it.

"We're excited for Ghost to be in the lineup and excited to see what he's got, and I'm sure the fans are pretty excited, too," Giroux said. "He moves the puck very fast, and it feels like he's dancing on the ice, so it's pretty fun to watch."

Breakaways. Ray Emery (2-0-1, 2.84 GAA) will make his second straight start. Coach Craig Berube said he wanted Steve Mason (0-3-1, 3.83) to get in extra work with goalie coach Jeff Reese and regain his confidence…..Michael Del Zotto, who had been paired with Schenn, will be with Nick Schultz….Vinny Lecavalier (left foot) again skated with the team….The Flyers are riding an eight-game, 16-year home winning streak vs. the Red Wings. They have not lost to Detroit on home ice since Game 2 of the 1997 Stanley Cup Finals. Detroit's last regular-season win here was on Jan. 25, 1997.

Follow Sam Carchidi on Twitter @BroadStBull.