Philadelphia Flyers captain and center Sean Couturier appears to have gotten hurt during Thursday’s night game against visiting Nashville. Couturier got hit with a shot that looked like it hit him around the left elbow. He dropped to the ice but was able to skate off under his own steam.
Couturier sat on the bench not feeling the best. He appeared to have missed his next regular shift but returned to play a shift or two to end the first period, including being on the ice for the final seconds of the opening frame with Nashville on the power play. Unfortunately when the Flyers returned to start the second period, Couturier wasn’t on the bench.
I don’t see Sean Couturier on Flyers’ bench. Don’t believe he came out for start of second period.
— Jordan Hall (@JHallNBCS) October 31, 2025
There was no official word from the Flyers as to what the injury was to Couturier or whether it was more precautionary to see the nature of what the problem might be. However they released news later in the second.
Injury update: Flyers forward Sean Couturier will not return to tonight’s game. #NSHvsPHI
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) October 31, 2025
The forward took seven shifts in the opening period for 5:17 of ice time. He didn’t register a point but did have three blocked shots. Sadly, one of those three blocked shots looks to be the source of the possible ailment.
The injury for the interim left the Flyers with a few other lines being juggled with different combinations. Although the line of Noah Cates, Bobby Brink and Tyson Foerster were in tact, being a man down the middle resulted in Trevor Zegras, Nic Deslauriers and Garnet Hathaway. Later in the second, Zegras found himself again with Hathaway but also Travis Konecny.
Again, there’s nothing concrete as to what the issue is or a possible timeline for recovery, whether it’s simply day-to-day or longer. What it will do for the time being is probably make Zegras far less of a “hybrid” winger and center and see him being used much more down the middle to compensate for Couturier’s absence.
Couturier was off to a great start to the season, with nine points (two goals and seven assists) and finding his footing on a line with Konecny and Owen Tippett. Hopefully the injury isn’t serious and he’s able to return to the lineup much sooner than later. Given the rather lack of depth at center it’s crucial Couturier isn’t out for too long.
