Despite scoring three and a half goals per game in Mike Yeo's first four games as interim head coach, the Flyers will continue to welcome any source of offense moving forward.
With two goal-scoring reinforcements nearing along the wing, Yeo and the front office should soon have good decisions to make for a club trying to climb the standings following a 10-game skid.
Joel Farabee (shoulder) took the ice Monday at Flyers Training Center and Wade Allison (ankle) has started getting game reps with AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley.
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For Farabee, he skated before practice with Derick Brassard (hip) and skills coach Angelo Ricci. The 21-year-old winger then joined the club for practice in limited fashion. He has missed the last five games after suffering the shoulder injury Dec. 1 during the first period of the Flyers' 4-1 loss to the Rangers.
"Great to see Joel out there with us today," Yeo said. "Such an important player for us in so many areas of the game. He was a little bit limited in what we had him participate in, but he's ahead of schedule and getting very close."
Farabee, who was originally considered week to week, isn't expected to play Tuesday at home against the Devils (7 p.m. ET/NBCSP) or Thursday on the road against the Canadiens (7 p.m. ET/NBCSP+). But the Flyers then host the Senators on Saturday (7 p.m. ET/NBCSP) and the Capitals next Tuesday (7 p.m. ET/ESPN+, Hulu).
"We want to make sure that we get him into a full practice," Yeo said.
"We want him involved in a really good practice. We'll take a look at what our schedule gives us the chance to do here, but getting him out today was a really good first step."
Allison has not yet played for the Flyers this season. The 24-year-old winger missed all of training camp after suffering a high ankle sprain Sept. 19 in the Flyers' second rookie game.
In two games with the Phantoms over last weekend, Allison had an assist, a shootout tally and 10 shots. Tony Androckitis of InsideAHLHockey.com has more on Allison's performances here and here.
"Wade's playing, which is great news for us," Yeo said. "I got a chance to watch a little bit of their game before our game in Arizona. He's still got the long, curly, orange hair and he's still buzzing around the ice, all over the place. His skating looks good. I didn't watch the game [Sunday], but I've heard that he's already made an impact with their group, which is great news."
Yeo was unable to say when he felt Allison could join the Flyers. But with the club eager for offense and more stability in its bottom six, Allison should get his opportunity when it's there. Like Farabee, Allison has the potential to be a lift for the Flyers in areas of need. The team owns the NHL's 24th-ranked power play percentage (13.1) and 27th-ranked goals per game figure (2.50). Allison is a power forward with an NHL shot and hard-to-play-against style. He can score from the circles and in the slot, as well as in front the net.
At 10-12-4 overall, the Flyers enter this week coming off consecutive victories for the first time since Oct. 27-28.
"We haven't been perfect and for sure it's a work in progress, but I do hope that one thing that has been evident — because it has been very evident to me — is the work ethic," Yeo said. "You see the way that our players are tracking back, the way that they're competing, battling — that's been very impressive to me. Definitely focused on this group that we have right now and getting them ready tomorrow."
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In other health matters, Sean Couturier missed practice Monday for a maintenance day. Yeo expects the first-line center to be fully ready to go for Tuesday's game.
Brassard missed the Flyers' two wins over the weekend after returning last Wednesday in the 3-0 loss to the Devils.
"He was feeling good. Unfortunately, sometimes when you practice, obviously it's not the same level as a game," Yeo said. "He got into the game and was still feeling it. Out of precaution right now, it's a long year, we want our players in the lineup, we want them to be healthy and we want them to be able to give us 100 percent."
While Brassard skated Monday with Farabee, he did not join the club for practice.
"I don't want to say we limited him as far as what he did," Yeo said, "but we're still being cautious with that."
Ryan Ellis (lower body) was scheduled for an MRI on Monday and Yeo said the top-pair defenseman is feeling better.
"My understanding is that he's progressing," Yeo said.
Ellis' status still looks like a possible return around Jan. 1.
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