Noel Acciari was on the ice for the Flyers' practice in Columbus on Friday, one day after he left the Edmonton game with an upper-body injury.
UPDATE (12:17 PM ET): Jackie Spiegel reported that these looked like the Flyers' lines at Friday's practice: Foerster-Zegras-Konecny, Bunting-Dvorak-Tippett, Martone-Cates-Michkov and Barkey-Couturier-Acciari.
On defense, she had Sanheim-Drysdale, York-Bonk and Seeler-Ristolainen, with Benoit-Jiřiček as the other pairing. Acciari skated on the fourth line, which suggests he is a candidate to be in the lineup against Columbus. The team hasn't confirmed anything.
It's a welcome sight for a team that is 5-10-6 and sits 28th in the NHL.
Jackie Spiegel noted that the Flyers had everyone on the ice, Acciari included.
Spiegel also confirmed the setting, with the Flyers practicing in Ohio as the road trip rolls into Columbus.
As we told you Thursday, the concerning update on Noel Acciari had fans bracing for a longer absence. Seeing him skate the next day changes the tone.
Nothing official has come out on his status for Saturday. The Flyers haven't said whether he plays against the Blue Jackets, and practicing is not the same as being cleared.
What Acciari's availability means for the Flyers' lineup
The Flyers lost 3-2 in overtime in Edmonton on Wednesday, and they can't afford to lose bodies right now. Acciari has 3 goals and 1 assist in 21 games, with a -3 rating, so he isn't carrying the offense.
But he's a veteran forward who gives Rick Tocchet a physical, reliable option, and that matters on a road trip where the Flyers are 2-6-3 away from home this season.
Columbus is no easy night off, though. The Blue Jackets are 29th in the NHL and have lost three straight, so Saturday is a real chance for Philadelphia to get a win. Having a healthy forward group would help.
Losing Acciari for any stretch would force Tocchet to shuffle his bottom six again. Seeing him on the ice Friday makes that less likely, and the Flyers will be watching how he looks in the morning skate Saturday.
This article was written with the help of artificial intelligence, based on public reports and official sources.
Will Noel Acciari play Saturday in Columbus?
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