Colaiacovo steps in for Flyers; Coburn out 4 weeks

After being a healthy scratch for the last 26 games, veteran Carlo Colaiacovo will return to the Flyers' lineup Wednesday in Washington.

Colaiacovo, a puck-moving defenseman, will replace Braydon Coburn, who will be sidelined for four weeks with what is believed to be a broken left foot.

Colaiacovo, who turns 32 on Jan. 27, sounded almost giddy about returning to the lineup.

"I can't even describe how I feel right now," he said. "I'm just really looking forward to getting back."

Colaiacovo, who will be paired with Luke Schenn, said it's been a "tough mental grind, but it's prepared me for an opportunity like this. It's unfortunate that it's happened because of an injury, but I don't control those fates. I just control how hard I work and keeping myself mentally and physically ready."

The Flyers will face a surging Capitals team that has won six straight at home and has points in 17 of its last 18 games.

In five early-season games with the Flyers, Colaiacovo had two assists and was plus-2. The Flyers went 2-3 and allowed 2.8 goals per game in that span.

Signed as a free agent on Oct. 30 because of injuries to Andrew MacDonald and Coburn, Colaiacovo hasn't played since Nov. 19, a 2-0 loss to the New York Rangers. He said he didn't foresee any problems from the long layoff because he has kept himself in shape.

Coach Craig Berube said Colaiacovo has worked hard like continually benched defenseman Hal Gill did last year, waiting for his turn. "It's not an easy thing to do for veteran guys who have been around," Berube said. "They're team guys and they stay positive."

Colaiacovo, Toronto's first-round draft pick (17th overall) in 2001, acknowledged that there is a "huge difference" between practicing and game action.

"You're talking about guys who are in midseason form, playing every night," he said. "But if I make that my focus, I'm already one step behind. My focus has to be to go in there, play smart, and keep it simple."

With several promising defensemen in the system, the Flyers figured to try to trade Coburn, but the injury complicates things. If the time line holds up, he would return Feb. 10 in Montreal and play 10 games before the March 2 trade deadline.

Coburn, 29, broke the same foot on opening night in Boston and missed 12 games; he is expected to miss 10 games with his latest injury.

As for Colaiacovo, he has overcome a slew of injuries in his career. Since 2010-11, he has missed a total of 64 games with shoulder, wrist, head, knee, eye, and other injuries.

"Anybody that's been through what I've been through in my career could have easily packed it in and made excuses for themselves," he said, "but I just keep using it as motivation. For me, my life is hockey. That's all I know and that's all I want to continue to do. . . . So I'm embracing this right now."

Ed Snider is No. 9 in the Hockey News' rankings of the NHL's most powerful people.

philly.com/broadstreetbullEndText

@BroadStBull