Brian Elliott Returns as Flyers Send Alex Lyon Back to Phantoms

VOORHEES, N.J. - Brian Elliott may need to install some orange cones around his crease.

Elliott returned to practice Wednesday and was immediately greeted with a Jake Voracek shot to his mask that left the Flyers' netminder appearing a little woozy.

This unfortunate incident came just three days after Travis Konecny collided with Elliott during Sunday's practice session in Arizona. 

"It was just a 2-on-1 drill with a pass across and I tried to slide across when (a player to be named later) came and it was either a knee or a leg right to the melon," Elliott said Wednesday. "I was feeling not the greatest right after, but I progressively got better throughout the past couple of days."

When asked if the "player to be named later" has picked up a dinner check for his inadvertent collision, Elliott responded, "That would be a first."

Elliott was scratched from Monday's game against the Coyotes but believes he's ready if called upon to play Thursday. The Flyers loaned goaltender Alex Lyon, as well as forward Tyrell Goulbourne, back to Lehigh Valley. 

However, my suspicion is that Cal Pickard - the first goaltender off the ice at Wednesday's practice - will earn another start following a solid 34-save winning effort in Arizona, and Elliott will return to the net for Saturday's afternoon contest against the Blackhawks.

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Elliott and the rest of the Flyers must find a way to bring that level of consistency back to the Wells Fargo Center following a 3-0-1 road trip (see story).

"Prepare the same way and take that mentality that I don't care how we're going to do it, we're going to go out there and win," Elliott said. "I think at home, sometimes it's a little tougher. It's trying to take that same focus and bring it here. It's going to be a challenge, but it shouldn't be."

The Flyers have held a lead in just two of their first six games on home ice and have been outscored, 26-15.

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