Elliott loosens to idea of returning
PHILADELPHIA >> While Anthony Stolarz was again trying to make a case for himself Thursday night to not only get more playing time but also stick around for a while, another Flyers goalie was talking about getting involved again, too.
That would be Brian Elliott, the pre-ordained No. 1 goalie for a club that has trotted out seven — count ‘em, seven — goaltenders this season.
Elliott, who hasn’t played since Nov. 15 due to chronic issues in his abdominal/groin muscles, has spent the bulk of his season watching from afar. But finally, he is only watching from a distance during games. Elliott was sitting in the luxury scratch box for this game against the Kings, but that was only after practicing earlier in the day and talking about an overdue return plan.
This for an injury originally expected to keep him out only a few weeks. But in December, Elliott suffered what was essentially a setback.
“It was quick to know it was going to be more than that initial time frame, so you have to wrap your brain around it and make sure you’re doing the right things to not just keep going out there practicing to try to get better, because sometimes it just make things worse,” he said. “You have to take the right steps to make sure you be smart about it and make sure everything in there is strong enough.”
“In there” would be referring to Elliott’s abdominal area, which he is now proclaiming is almost fit for playing ... somewhere.
The plan for Elliott is to resume a practice-only Flyers schedule through next week, but that could change if it is decided he could use a rehab stint with the AHL’s Phantoms.
Considering the way Carter Hart has been cruising in the Flyers’ net, and how good Stolarz has looked in the rare opportunities to spell him, Elliott just might want to keep his anticipated comeback on the cautious track.
“I’m confident enough to know that I could step right in,” Elliott said, “but with how the team’s rolling right now, it probably would be nice to get a feel for some game action and some quick side-to-side moves that you’re trying to get in practice. Sometimes you can’t simulate those scrambling, chaos situations. That’s the thing we’re talking about right now.”
When and if Elliott is ready for a return, it will be interesting to see if the Flyers are going to send Stolarz back to the Phantoms to hook up with Alex Lyon, yet another Flyers goalie coming back from injury.
Or would general manager Chuck Fletcher want to keep three goalies with the Flyers to be more secure?
“That’s not up to me,” Elliott said. “That’s their stuff. I’m not going to say anything (about it). Right now it’s just trying to get enough time in the net and I think everybody tries to do that. Sometimes to gets a little crowded, but if you handle things the right way, it can be done for sure.”
Elliott is 6-7 with a 2.59 goalsagainst average and .911 saves percentage in 14 appearances. At 33 he may not be the goalie he was when much younger, but as he showed in his play over a couple of weeks leading up to his latest injury problems, he’s still capable of being a solid force in the crease.
All well and good. But if the Flyers continue to contend for a playoff spot down the stretch, Elliott would likely have to get used to the idea of playing behind the 20-year-old wunderkind Hart (10-5-1, 2.48, .925).
That’s fine by Elliott, who noted that the club has been playing in front of Hart.
“I think we’ve definitely put more focus on playing a good, defensive, sound structure, and breaking out of our zone so that we’re not spending too much time in there,” Elliott said. “I think that’s helping, and when we have been a little sloppy, he’s been making saves. So it’s a good combination.”