The Flyers were 1-3 with the 20-year-old Schenn, who played wing and center and was scoreless. They were 4-0-1 before Rinaldo was sent down to the Phantoms.
Couturier, 18, played in his 10th game on Thursday against the visiting Winnipeg Jets, causing his three-year entry-level contract to start. He is expected to stay with the Flyers all season.
The Flyers could have sent Couturier back to juniors, and his contract would not have started.
"I tried not to think about it too much - going back," Couturier said before Thursday's game. "I focused on being here and doing what I can do to help the team."
Couturier had two goals and two assists entering Thursday.
"He's been solid," coach Peter Laviolette said. "Defensively, he's been responsible. Offensively, he's given us what we've asked for."
With Schenn sidelined, Couturier went back to being the third-line center Thursday between Matt Read and Jakub Voracek. Couturier, who has been one of the Flyers' most effective penalty killers, had been moved to the fourth line after Schenn's arrival.
Keeping Couturier, Laviolette said, was general manager Paul Holmgren's decision. "But I think everybody was on the same page," Laviolette said.
Rinaldo and Gustafsson were in the lineup against the Jets. Rinaldo was on the third line with Max Talbot and Jody Shelley, while Gustafsson was used sparingly early in the game. (Talbot suffered an injury blocking a shot in the first period but returned and later scored a goal.)
Claude Giroux's line, with Jaromir Jagr and Scott Hartnell, remained intact. The other line had Danny Briere centering James van Riemsdyk and Wayne Simmonds.
Breakaways
Chris Pronger, sidelined by an eye injury, will begin light workouts this weekend, Holmgren said. . . . Matt Walker and Andreas Nodl were healthy scratches. . . . Several reports said Mikael Renberg will not be able to play in the Dec. 31 Flyers-New York Rangers alumni game because of his TV duties in Sweden. He will be broadcasting the World Junior Championships.
- Sam Carchidi
