Scott Laughton and Travis Konecny will be tasked with showing why they received the 'A' on their jerseys against Toronto.
The news of captain Sean Couturier's scratching against the Toronto Maple Leafs threw Flyers fans into a tailspin, to say the least, and left everyone wondering what the possible implications could be of his absence.
Sure, Couturier hasn't been at his best on the ice. He knows that. Despite receiving the 'C' in February, he has had to contend with being dropped down to the fourth line and receiving significantly less ice time than he has in previous seasons. It was a bit of unfamiliar territory for the veteran center, but he held his head high and said he would keep putting in the work to prove to head coach John Tortorella that he was worthy of being moved back up to the first line.
Then, on the morning of the Flyers' Mar. 19 game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, the unthinkable happened, leaving onlookers stunned.
Tortorella healthy scratched his captain.
There had been speculation that it could happen, but many fans refused to believe that their head coach would actually sit Couturier out. He wasn't the only player struggling on the ice in the last several games, and it's no secret that Couturier's presence and leadership in the locker room are extremely valuable to his teammates. Plus, Couturier's performances had been trending upward as of late—not totally back to where he was before, but certainly not regressing further.
There were plenty of opinions about whether or not the scratch was justified, but that's a discussion for another day. The conversation against the Maple Leafs (and potentially other games now that scratching the captain is clearly an option for Tortorella) should be about alternate captains Travis Konecny and Scott Laughton.
Both players have also not been at 100% lately. Laughton has experienced ups and downs this season, struggling with inconsistency and long stretches of mediocrity. Not so long ago, he was the one being demoted to the fourth line and seeing very little ice time.
Konecny is still getting his legs underhim since he returned from an injury. While the goals haven't been there, he's slowly starting to create high-quality chances again.
Both alternate captains are penalty killers. Couturier's absence means the loss of not only the captain but also a former Selke Trophy Winner. The Flyers' 15 shorthanded goals are the most in the NHL this season. Laughton and Konecny need to show why they are the first and sometimes second-best option on the penalty kill.
In terms of mentality, Konecny brings the passion that brings his team into the fight; however, sometimes, that can get him into trouble. Laughton is more experienced than Konecny and can fill the gap by ensuring the team remains calm against a formidable opponent.
Tonight's game is crucial for the Flyers to win. The Toronto Maple Leafs are a playoff-bound team. Although their success hasn't been past the second round, they know what it takes to get into the dance, something the Flyers are going through right now.
The Flyers have struggled to keep pucks out of their net. The last time these two teams played, the Leafs put a seven on the scoreboard, highlighting the importance of defensive detail without the captain and Selke winner.
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