A little more than one month after being named Flyers captain, Sean Couturier will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday night.
“I feel like I’ve been putting the work in for a while,” the 31-year-old centre told reporters after Philadelphia’s optional skate. “I know I’ve been struggling, trying to work on my game, so definitely frustrated the way I’ve been treated lately, but it is what it is.”
Couturier admitted the situation is “definitely” testing his patience. The 2020 Selke Trophy winner will miss the game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
“I got to leave my ego aside, I guess, and hopefully the team finds a way to get a win here tonight and I can get back into it soon,” Couturier said.
Couturier isn’t sure what he needs to do to get back in the good graces of coach John Tortorella.
“I’ve gotten the same answers as you guys,” he said. “‘Just need to see more.’ Still looking to find out what that is, but I’m trying every game. It’s not like I’m sitting around or doing nothing.”
Tortorella didn’t address the media on Tuesday morning, but did hint at this move during a news conference on Monday.
“When people want more ice time in a team sport, they forget that there are other people that are playing too that might be playing better,” the veteran bench boss told reporters. “Those are the decisions I have to make.”
Couturier was demoted to the fourth line during Saturday’s loss in Boston where he played a season-low 11 minutes and 10 seconds.
Couturier has not scored in 14 games since being named captain on Feb. 14. He has just three assists and a minus-13 rating in that time, while Philadelphia has stumbled to a 5-7-2 record.
“I don’t care the name, the stature, veteran, especially this time of year,” Tortorella said. “I don’t care who you are, I’m going to [play] the guys that I think give you the best chance to win that particular game.”
Couturier’s production has tailed off since he missed a couple games with an injury in January.
Tortorella, who is in his second season as Flyers coach, isn’t concerned about losing Couturier.
“I’ll never worry about him as far as effort, as far as attitude,” Tortorella said. “He is a pro. I have a tremendous respect for him, and I’m not worried about that. I need him to be better, that’s all.”
The Flyers lead the Washington Capitals, who have played one fewer game, by just one point in the race for the third and final automatic playoff spot out of the Metropolitan Division. The Detroit Red Wings, who are ninth in the Eastern Conference, sit just two points back.
The Leafs were already anticipating a fired up Flyers team considering Toronto beat Philadelphia handily in their home rink less than a week ago.
“I fully expect a response,” said Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe. “We talked to our team about that here today. Obviously, something like scratching your captain, all those kind of things get your team’s attention, so we’ll certainly expect their best tonight.”
“I mean, it’s shocking,” said rookie winger Matthew Knies. “They’re trying to send a message that they need to put together a good effort and make the playoffs … It just makes us want to work harder and understand their push is going to be a lot.”
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