Surprise call-up McDonald gives Devils his due
PHILADELPHIA >> Colin McDonald, who said he was “at peace” with being the leader and captain of the organization’s minor league team in the Lehigh Valley, showed Saturday night some of what the Flyers have been missing.
McDonald, a pretty good forechecker for a minor league veteran, beat the Devils defense and was in the right place at the right time in the first period, when New Jersey Devils goalie Cory Schneider made a gaffe on a loose puck and flopped short of it in front of the net. McDonald swooped right in and jammed the puck home for the Flyers’ second goal of the period.
McDonald was a surprise recall from the Phantoms on this day, mainly because the Flyers had two other players who were picked ahead of McDonald coming out of training camp ready, willing and able to play in place of Matt Read, who is finished for the season with a broken arm.
Read had blocked a shot at the end of the 6-3 win over the Islanders Thursday night. It was casted and in a sling Saturday.
Though Nick Cousins had missed several games with a concussion, he had been cleared to practice and play earlier in the week. And then there’s Roman Lyubimov, who was a healthy scratch in 14 of the previous 15 Flyers games. Add another... General manager Ron Hextall and coach Dave Hakstol opted to bring the affable, 32-year-old McDonald up from the Phantoms, where he had 23 goals and 41 points and was a plus-4 this season, and insert him into the lineup. The move would have an immediate payoff on the ice.
“I’m just going to try to bring some energy,” McDonald had said earlier. “My role is a little bit different here than it is down there. They know that and I know that. I’ll go out there and try to play physical and get pucks in and just bring some energy.”
Asked about being given the very belated chance to be part of a team that some people feel he’s good enough to play for, McDonald said, “You’re waiting a long time and you’re just real excited to get the opportunity. As the year goes on you start doubting if you’re going to get the chance. Sure enough, here it is.
“I really am at peace with where I’m at,” McDonald added. “I was completely committed to that team down there, and being the best leader that I could be. It’s been a lot of fun this year . ... I try not to overthink things and look back. I’m really just focused on where I’m at. That was at Lehigh.”
McDonald will be back with the Phantoms at some point, certainly in time for an anticipated playoff appearance — which would be their first after seven straight playoff misses.
*** College signee Mike Vecchione participated in his first Flyers practice Saturday, though it was a relatively short one, being a morning skate. Didn’t dampen his enthusiasm any.
“Lotta happy tears,” is how Vecchione described being a new Flyer. “It’s been a long time coming. Once I signed the paper I gave my mom and dad a big hug and it was tears of joy. It’s just an unreal feeling.”
Vecchione was a healthy scratch Saturday night against New Jersey and will not play Sunday night in New York, either. His first assignment could be Tuesday night in Newark against the Devils, but that’s presuming the Flyers are eliminated by then.
“My last game was a week ago ... we were doing this process for a while,” Vecchione said. “I tried to get in earlier yesterday and the snow kind of delayed my flights all the way up until nighttime. So I’m just taking day by day . ... Get some of the rust off and get my legs under me.
“I sat in on the PK (penalty killing) meeting, that was pretty cool. Went (over) the play book, talk to the coach, see where I fit in, see what kind of role I’m going to play. ... It’s a lot to cover in a couple of days. I’m going to soak it all in, be a sponge here and get ready to play.”
*** McDonald really praised Scott Laughton, previously considered a failed top prospect. But Laughton has blossomed this season in the AHL, and McDonald seems to think the young centerman is ready for a career restart.
“Scott’s been my centerman all year and he’s been phenomenal,” McDonald said. “He’s just a solid, allaround player . ... He’s got a high hockey IQ. I can’t say enbough about him.”