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Coburn could return to play vs. Avalanche

Flyers coach Craig Berube said he will decide after Saturday's morning skate if veteran defenseman Braydon Coburn returns to the lineup that night against visiting Colorado.

Flyers defenseman Braydon Coburn. (Yong Kim/Staff file photo)
Flyers defenseman Braydon Coburn. (Yong Kim/Staff file photo)Read more

Flyers coach Craig Berube said he will decide after Saturday's morning skate if veteran defenseman Braydon Coburn returns to the lineup that night against visiting Colorado.

On one hand, Berube knows Coburn would give the Flyers a defenseman who can keep up with the speedy Avs.

On the other hand, if Coburn sits, he will have six more days before the Flyers play again, giving him more time to make sure his injured left foot is ready.

Decisions, decisions.

"Part of it will be his decision, too," Berube said after three Flyers - Coburn, Andrew MacDonald and Blair Jones - took part in an optional skate Friday at the team's Voorhees practice facility.

Coburn, 29, was injured in the opener against Boston and has missed the last 12 games.

If Coburn returns, Carlo Colaiacovo figures to be removed from the lineup. The defense has played well recently, and the Flyers have allowed a total of just four goals in their last three games. They are coming off consecutive 4-1 wins over Edmonton and Florida.

Coburn appeared ready to return Oct. 21 before he suffered a setback in pregame warm-ups in Chicago.

"He can fly. He's out there skating right now and it looks like he hasn't been off," Berube said. "He just has that ability to really move, no matter what. He's always in great shape, and he's just kind of a freak that way."

Coburn said he would "love to play," and that the extra rest and treatment have made him feel much better than when he was about to return in Chicago.

Meanwhile, Berube said he will keep Wayne Simmonds at left wing on a line with Claude Giroux and Jake Voracek. Simmonds switched with Chris VandeVelde early in the second period of Thursday's win over Edmonton.

"The line will work if they play simple, but if they try to complicate things and try to be too fancy, it won't work," Berube said. "They have to play a simple game and their skill will take over."

VandeVelde will be with Vinny Lecavalier and R.J. Umberger on Saturday, and Berube is happy with the way the other lines - Sean Couturier centering Brayden Schenn and Matt Read, and Pierre-Edouard Bellemare centering Zac Rinaldo and Jason Akeson - played against the Oilers.

The Flyers have points in their last six home games (4-0-2), including four straight wins. Colorado is 1-3-3 on the road.