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Flyers rookie Tyrell Goulbourne returned to Phantoms after his hit debut

The rookie, whose big hit in his first NHL shift Saturday led to a goal and ignited the Flyers 6-3 victory over St. Louis, was returned to the Phantoms.

Flyers left wing Tyrell Goulbourne on the ice against the St. Louis Blues on Saturday, January 6, 2018 in Philadelphia.
Flyers left wing Tyrell Goulbourne on the ice against the St. Louis Blues on Saturday, January 6, 2018 in Philadelphia.Read moreYONG KIM / Staff Photographer

Tyrell Goulbourne's long, strange trip to the NHL is over. At least for now.

Goulbourne, whose big hit in his first NHL shift Saturday led to a goal and ignited the Flyers' 6-3 victory over St. Louis, was returned to the Phantoms after  Sunday's 4-1 victory over Buffalo – a victory in which he came ever-so-close to scoring his first NHL goal.

Early in the third period, Goulbourne took a pass just inside the blue line and with a burst of speed got a step on a Sabres defenseman. His rushed backhander sailed high however.

Goulbourne played nine shifts and 5 minutes, 45 seconds on Sunday, and had 11 shifts and 5:23 of ice time Saturday. After being demoted to Reading at this time last year, the 23-year-old 2015 third-round pick has resuscitated his career with a tenacious game this season.

Lehigh Valley plays three consecutive games next weekend.

Breakaways

The Flyers scored a total of 16 goals in their last three games of the four-game homestand. They have scored four or more goals in each of their last five wins. Their 18 shots in the second period tied their most in any period. They had 18 in a 4-2 win against Toronto on Dec.12, which ties their most in any period this season. … Andrew MacDonald played in his 500th game, gaining an assist in 19:50 of ice time. Sean Couturier posted his second consecutive two-goal game.  He has five goals over his last three games and 23 for the season, good for fourth in the league (prior to Sunday night's games). … Claude Giroux's assist on Couturier's second period power-play goal was his 52nd point. He was tied with Nathan MacKinnon for second in the league before to last night.  Voracek's two assists put him at 43 for the season. That's a league best.