The Philadelphia Flyers announced earlier today that forward Max Willman and a team staff member were placed in COVID-19 protocols. They also announced that goaltender Felix Sandström has been recalled on an emergency basis from the AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms, as Carter Hart is currently out with an undetermined illness.
Willman scored his second goal of the season in Thursday’s 3-2 shootout loss to the Montreal Canadiens and has played very well in his time with Philadelphia. In Willman’s place, Joel Farabee will draw back into the Philadelphia lineup after missing the last seven games with a shoulder injury.
The 26 year-old forward from Barnstable, Massachusetts made his NHL debut on October 15th against the Canucks and has appeared in 12 games for the Flyers, racking up two goals and one assist. He scored his first NHL goal against the Vegas Golden Knights back on December 10th.
Willman is also second on the Phantoms in goals with 8, despite only appearing in 13 games with them. His last AHL goal came in his most recent AHL game to date, in a 4-1 loss to the Syracuse Crunch on November 26th.
Sandström will serve as Martin Jones’ backup tonight against Ottawa after Hart’s illness arose. Sandström has mainly served as the starting netminder in Lehigh Valley this season. He has chalked up a 3-7-3 record with a 3.08 GAA and .896 SV% and one shutout in 15 games with the Phantoms. Despite his poor numbers, he has played relatively well on a Phantoms squad that has been decimated with injuries at times this year.
Sandström, a third-round pick by the Flyers in 2015, appeared in relief in one preseason contest for the Flyers while serving only as the backup in three others. The Gävle, Sweden native made 12 saves on 13 shots in 29:14 of action in a 4-2 loss to the Bruins in an impressive yet very brief performance.
It remains to be seen how long Hart will be out for, but if it’s for any extended length of time, Sandström could possibly see his first NHL action.
