NHL Daily: Flyers Lose Their Soul; Claude Giroux’s rebirth

If goaltender Carter Hart is the heart of the Philadelphia Flyers, feisty right winger Travis Konecny is their soul.

No Flyer plays with more gusto. No one scores more goals. No one causes opponents more grief with his in-your-face style.

For all those reasons, the Flyers are holding their collective breath, hoping the injury Konecny suffered Monday isn’t serious.

Konecny went straight to the locker room after absorbing a jarring hit from Calgary’s MacKenzie Weegar in the second period of the Flyers’ eventual 4-3 win. He did not return.

The Flyers should have more information before Tuesday’s game in Edmonton. For now, GM Chuck Fletcher is calling it an upper-body injury;  no timetable was given for his return.

Before the injury, Koencny had a goal and an assist in the game. He leads the Flyers in goals (27) and points (54).

In Boston, one of Konecny’s former teammates, Claude Giroux, continued his excellent season. The Senators stayed close, but dropped a 3-1 decision Monday to the powerful Bruins.

Giroux is having a rebirth. He scored his 23rd goal and had a team-leading five shots. His goal total is his highest since he scored 34 for the Philadelphia Flyers in 2017-18, the season he should have been named the league’s MVP.

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Around the NHL and National Hockey Now

Philly Hockey Now: The Flyers lost high-scoring Travis Konecny to a second-period injury. We should know the severity of the injury Tuesday. Philadelphia Flyers.

Philly Hockey Now: Rookie Sam Ersson was excellent as the shorthanded Flyers outlasted host Calgary, 4-3. Ersson became the eighth goalie in NHL history to start his career with a 6-0 record. Philadelphia Flyers.

Ottawa Senators: Claude Giroux had another strong game, but got little help from his teammates in a 3-1 loss in Boston. Ottawa Senators.

Washington Hockey Now: Coach Peter Laviolette gave a potential outline for Alex Ovechkin’s return. The superstar has been in Russia after the death of his father, Mikhail. Washington Capitals.

Boston Hockey Now: David Pastrnak had two goals in the Bruins’ 3-1 win over Ottawa. It gave them a 43-8-5 record for 91 points in 56 games. That ties the 1979-80 Flyers for the fastest team to hit the 90-point mark in NHL history. That Flyers team finished with 116 points. Boston Bruins.

New York Islanders Hockey Now: The Isles again overcame a third-period deficit and beat the Penguins. Their 4-2 win in Pittsburgh moved them ahead of the Penguins in the wildcard race. The Islanders won despite playing without injured star Mathew Barzal. New York Islanders.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: The Penguins’ view on their latest meltdown. “We found a way to lose,” coach Mike Sullivan said after the Pens fell out of a playoff spot. Pittsburgh Penguins.

Florida Hockey Now: Florida jumped into a playoff spot, passing the Penguins after a 4-3 overtime win over Anaheim. Florida Panthers.

Detroit Hockey Now: The Red Wings still have playoff hopes as they play a critical game Tuesday in Washington. Detroit Red Wings.

L.A. Hockey Now: The Kings are overloaded with forwards and may have to deal one. Los Angeles Kings.