VOORHEES, N.J. – Three members of the Flyers will be playing in the prestigious 4-Nations Face-Off hockey tournament in February.
On Wednesday, Canada named Philadelphia right wing Travis Konecny and defenseman Travis Sanheim to its roster.
In addition, Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen will play for Finland.
Konecny, 27, is off to the best start of his nine-year career. He’s registered 13 goals and is among the NHL’s top scoring right wings since the end of October.
His teammates in Canada’s forward lineup will include Pittsburgh superstar Sidney Crosby, Edmonton’s Connor McDavid and Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon
Sanheim, 28, has been a steady presence on the Flyers’ top defense pairing. His five goals have ranked in the NHL’s top three for defensemen.
As for Ristolainen, after a couple injury-plagued seasons, he has made a nice comeback this season.
In his first three seasons in Philadelphia, the 6-foot-4, 228-pound backliner was minus-9, minus-4, minus-6. This year: Plus-1.
Also, he only played in 31 games last season due to a torn pectoral muscle. So far this season he has played in all 25 games.
For Konecny, this marks the London, Ontario native’s fifth time making a Team Canada roster with his senior national team debut at the 2017 IIHF World Championships. On the international stage, he has played 32 games and registered 11 goals and 25 points.
“I was very caught off guard. I knew for a little bit there had been some speculation that I might be on it, and I never really paid any attention to it because I really didn’t think that there was really that much of a chance,” said Konecny. “But for me and ‘Sanny’ to both make it, it’s such an awesome experience that we get to do together. Playing for your country at any point is something special that you don’t take for granted so I look forward to it.”
Among Canadians in the NHL, Konecny ranks seventh in points (30), fifth for goals (13), and is tied for third in power-play goals (5).
Sanheim was named one of seven defensemen for Canada. He has represented Canada on four different occasions, two of those occasions were with Konecny.
“It was very cool to hear the news and obviously a huge honor. To be able to do it with your best buddy kind of tops it all off and something that I’m really excited about,” said Sanheim.
So far this season the Elkhorn, Manitoba native averages the fifth most time on ice in the NHL at 25:30 per game and among Canadian defensemen he is tied for 10th in points (15).
Ristolainen, a native of Turku, Finland, has represented his country on the international stage on 17 different occasions while three of those appearances were for the senior team with his debut being at the 2016 IIHF World Championships.
“It’s going to be huge, said Ristolainen. “Always very honored to represent your country and particularly for this tournament. It’s best against the best which we haven’t had for a while and get to play with a lot of good friends so it will be very exciting.”
>Tortorella: ‘It’s an honor to represent your country
In the 4-Nations Face-Off tournament, Flyers coach John Tortorella will serve as an assistant coach to United States head coach Mike Sullivan.
The two go back a long way together so it promises to be a lot of fun.
Sullivan has won a pair of Stanley Cups as head coach with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2016 and 2017. Prior to that, Sullivan had served as an assistant coach on Tortorella’s staffs in Tampa, Vancouver and the New York Rangers.
“For me personally, I’ve had my chances,” Tortorella said. “I think other people need to get a turn. But when it comes to Mike Sullivan, who calls me, who started with me as an assistant coach, it’s kind of gone full circle.
“It’s something I’m very fortunate to have, to coach with him in a different role and support him. That’s what kicked it over for me. ‘Sully’ called and when he does, I’ll do anything for that. He means that much to me. Country, Sully, it’s a no-brainer for me.”
The United States will have its hands full up against the likes of Canada, Sweden and Finland.
Asked if he will be a good assistant coach, Tortorella shook his head. He used some colorful language to describe a pre-tournament evaluation of his “assistant” coaching skills.
“I think about that, I try to think about what my role is,” he said. “How I have to handle myself. But it’s an honor. . .the back nine of my career, pretty much close to being done with it. To be able to do it with your country with one of my best friends, it’s an honor.”
>Ersson a good possibility to play
According to Tortorella, goaltender Samuel Ersson is an “option” to start in Thursday night’s home game against the Stanley Cup defending champion Florida Panthers.
Ersson has been on IR since Nov. 18. He suffered a lower-body injury in a game at Carolina on Nov. 5. He’s been practicing a few days and has been medically cleared to play.
>Getting help for the power play
Tortorella enlisted the services of general manager Danny Briere along with former Flyers John LeClair and Patrick Sharp (both special advisors) to help out with the power play again the other day.
The Flyers, seeking to end a three-year slump in which they finished last in NHL power-play percentage the last three years (including an embarrassing 12.2 percent last year), got off to a quick start this season but a recent slump has dropped them to 26th in the league at 16.0 percent.
“Most of them were in for pro scouts meetings,” Tortorella said. “They were on the ice. They watched our practice. (Assistant coach) Rocky (Thompson, who oversees the power play) has had a meeting with them. It’s really neat. It (the power play) hasn’t improved as much as we would like. We would certainly like to see it more consistent.”
>Short shots
Captain Sean Couturier did not practice on Wednesday. Tortorella termed it a maintenance day.
