While injuries mount, Flyers’ Gostisbehere is skating again

Just four games into the NHL season, the Flyers are short four regulars, the latest to exit forward Morgan Frost and defenseman Phillippe Myers.

If there is good news, it’s that the injury cloud could clear by the time the Flyers return from a four-game road trip that begins Thursday

with the first of two games against the Boston Bruins.

Frost went on injured reserve Thursday with a dislocated left shoulder that could sideline him a couple of weeks. Myers has a fractured rib and is week-to-week.

When the Flyers get back to the Skate Zone, defenseman Shayne Gostibehere likely will rejoin them and possibly even two-time team MVP Sean Couturier (rib cartilage). For the time being, coach Alain Vigneault, against his better judgement, is breaking up the fourth line by elevating center Scott Laughton and replacing him on that line with 22-year-old Connor Bunnaman, who has one goal is 21 league games.

Mark Friedman will be paired with defenseman Robert Hagg, which means Erik Gustafsson will move up and team with Travis

Sanheim.

“We’re in that next-man mentality moment right now,” Vigneault said on a videoconference. “We’ve got some guys who have wanted an opportunity to play and they’re ready to do their part to help us win.

“Every team has some injuries. But hopefully you only get your reasonable share. And hopefully they’re not too serious.”

Friedman has an opportunity to wipe out his average showing during training camp. Vigneault is eager to see what Friedman does with the chance.

“Coming into the season we had high expectations for Mark,” Vigneault said. “We liked what we saw last year. We liked the fight that he brought. This year I would say his camp was just OK and we made that very clear to him. And he’s picked it up since then. He’s been waiting for this opportunity. So, I expect him to play real hard, to compete, to play with his strengths.”

If Friedman doesn’t answer the bell, Derrick Pouliot is in the wings. The Flyers signed the veteran defenseman to their taxi squad from the Phantoms.

The best news is that Gostibehere could be active again following the road trip. He’ll have missed eight games on the COVID-19 list.