Couturier played just 11:10 on Saturday against the Boston Bruins, the lowest total he's played in a game he wasn't injured in since 2013
Couturier played just 11:10 on Saturday against the Boston Bruins, the lowest total he's played in a game he wasn't injured in since 2013In a 6-5 loss to the Boston Bruins, the Flyers captain played 11 minutes, 10 seconds. It marked the fewest minutes he’s logged in a game where he didn’t leave due to injury since his second NHL season.
Finding his role right now has not been easy. This season he’s been dropped from first-line center to the fourth line — sometimes in the same game, like against the Bruins. “It’s tough. If you had asked me this a couple of weeks ago, I would mess up defensively, and was costing games for the team, probably would say I deserve it to be demoted,” Couturier said when asked about his average lower ice time. “I feel the last couple of games, with the limited opportunities I get and the ice time, I think I’m playing all right. Obviously, not great, but I’m just trying to do the most of what I can right now and just be a good teammate.
“The thing is, when people want more ice time in a team sport, they forget that there are other people there playing too, around them, that might be playing better,” Tortorella said. “Those are the decisions I have to make. See for me, I don’t care the name, the stature, veteran — especially this time of year — I don’t care who you are, I’m going to put the guys that I think give you the best chance to win that particular game.