Farabee Out, Lycksell In for Flyers on Saturday

Joel Farabee’s streak of 216 consecutive games played will come to an end, as he was scratched in favor of Olle Lycksell ahead of Saturday’s matchup with the Anaheim Ducks.

The point production for the Flyers left-winger just has not been there this season. In 42 games, Farabee has accumulated six goals and eight assists (14 TP). For someone who was a 50-point scorer last season, the numbers are far away from what he was hoping he’d have this year.

Tortorella on the Decison

Flyers head coach John Tortorella said on Saturday, “Up until probably a couple of weeks ago, I liked his (Farabee) game.”

While the production did not come in bulk, Tortorella said that Farabee remained involved.

“The production wasn’t there, but he was involved. And we break tapes down, and we have all sorts of information after games, and he’s involved in a lot of the opportunities… I think he cares. He fights the other night. It’s hard for me to take him out. He fights for his team. I think he’s fighting just to try to get some juice within us. It’s not easy taking him out.” Tortorella added.

Farabee had six (2G, 4A) of his 14 total points come in the month of October. Two of his points (1G, 1A) came in November, and six in December (3G, 3A). He has yet to register a point in four games in the New Year. His last point came on December 29th when he scored against the Los Angeles Kings.

Tortorella later added that this was not punishment for Farabee.

“Sometimes you take out players for punitive stuff, and sometimes you take players out just let him get away from a bit. So this isn’t punitive. I need to get him playing better. Maybe he watches, and I’m not sure where it goes.” Tortorella said Saturday morning.

Lycksell Steps In

“I don’t really know what shape I am in. I haven’t played in a while… I mean, obviously, really happy, but as I mentioned, I don’t know where I’m at right now, but yeah, I’ve been trying to work harder off the game.” Olle Lycksell said when asked how it feels to get back on the ice and into the lineup Saturday.

Lycksell had been lighting it up in the AHL before getting called back up to the Flyers in late December, where he has been since.

He was playing just under a point-per-game pace, scoring nine goals and 15 assists, totaling 24 total points. He earned an AHL All-Star nod as well this season. In his last game with the Phantoms, Lycksell had a hat trick, along with an assist for a four-point night. That was on Dec. 20th against the Toronto Marlies.

Now that he is back in the NHL lineup, Lycksell will look to prove his worth.

“Yeah, of course. Like, that’s probably my main goal. Like, every day, every game I get, and to really show and I, I think I had a strong game last game I played, also got a goal waived off, and trying to build on that and I think. Yeah, that’s the type of game I’m playing, and I have to play tonight as well.” 

Lycksell’s second-period goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Dec. 21 was waived off due to offsides just before the score.

The Flyers and Lycksell will play the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday at 7 p.m. EST at the Wells Fargo Center.