Flyers Notes: Flyers promote Erik Gustafsson from AHL

By Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
Posted: February 17, 2013

MONTREAL - Defenseman Erik Gustafsson, promoted from the Adirondack Phantoms, replaced Kurtis Foster in the Flyers lineup Saturday night in Montreal.

Gustafsson played in 30 games (one goal, four assists, plus-12) with the Flyers last season and had a strong playoff showing.

"I'm a lot more confident this year. I know what to expect," he said before the game.

Gustafsson, 24, a smooth skater and puck-mover who gives the Flyers some speed on the back end, has recovered from a fractured ankle - suffered while blocking a shot in December - that sidelined him during his stint with the Phantoms. He had four goals and 14 assists in 32 games with Adirondack.

"I think he's at the point where he wants to get here and get in the lineup on a regular basis," said Flyers coach Peter Laviolette, whose team sent Andreas Lilja to the Phantoms to make room for Gustafsson. "It's unfortunate what happened with the injury to start the year, but he had some real good games for us, especially in that Pittsburgh series last year, and he can use that to build off of."

Gustafsson started the night paired with Nick Grossmann. Last season, he was usually paired with Andrej Meszaros or Matt Carle.

Kimmo Timonen, who missed the third period of Friday's loss in New Jersey with an unspecified injury, was in Saturday's lineup.

Boosh gets nod

Brian Boucher, who has replaced the injured Michael Leighton as the backup goalie, got his first NHL start of the season Saturday. Ilya Bryzgalov started 14 of the first 15 games, with Leighton getting the other start.

It was Boucher's first NHL start since April 7, when he was with Carolina and dropped a 4-1 decision in Florida. Boucher made his first start for the Flyers since the 2011 playoffs against Boston.

Montreal also went with its backup goalie as Peter Budaj filled in for the flu-ridden Carey Price.

Index by Keyword
|
Index by Date
|
About Philly.com
|
Contact Us
|
Terms of Use & Privacy Statement
|
Copyright 2013