Johnson left Thursday's game against the Chicago Blackhawks with an upper-body injury after playing only 11:18 time-on-ice. The veteran Johnson has been held off the scoresheet in seven straight games.

With the return of both Sean Couturier (undisclosed) and Jamie Drsdale (illness), Deslauriers finds himself the odd man out of the Flyers' lineup Thursday vs. Dallas. The 32-year-old bruiser has yet to find the back of the net this season, but has three assists, 40 SOG, 46 PIMs and a -8 plus/minus in 42 games.

Brink is the odd man out as Jamie Drysdale (illness) and Sean Couturier (undisclosed) return to the Flyers lineup Thursday vs. Dallas. The 22-year-old has been having a strong rookie season despite his reoccurring scratches, as he has 18 points (7G/11A), 55 SOG, six PIMs and a +7 plus/minus through 38 games played this season.

Drysdale has missed the last two games for the Flyers and will rejoin the Flyers' lineup Thursday against the Dallas Stars. Drysdale has been immediately productive since joining the Flyers, scoring two points (0G / 2A) in two games.

Couturier has missed the last two games due to an undisclosed injury and will return to the Flyers' lineup on Thursday against the Dallas Stars. Before his injury, he had six points in his last six games (1G / 5A). If Couturier is unable to play, Scott Laughton will likely continue to center the top powerplay unit.

Couturier has missed the last two games due to an undisclosed injury and will be a game-time decision on Thursday against the Dallas Stars. Before his injury, he had six points in his last six games (1G / 5A). If Couturier is unable to play, Scott Laughton will likely continue to center the top powerplay unit.

Drysdale has missed the last two games for the Flyers and will be a game-time decision against the Dallas Stars on Thursday. Drysdale has been immediately productive since joining the Flyers, scoring two points (0G / 2A) in two games.

The Flyers, riding a four-game winning streak, will return to Ersson between the pipes after giving him the night off in their last outing. Ersson is coming off a marvellous performance in his last start, a 35-save shutout in a 2-0 win over the Winnipeg Jets last week. After a rocky start to the season, Ersson has been a driving force in helping the Flyers stay in playoff contention, posting a gaudy .941 SV% in his last eight games (5-2-1). The Flyers are +126 home underdogs against a Dallas Stars club that has outscored their opposition 8-2 over their last two games (2-0-0).

Cates will make his return from a 22-game absence due to a foot injury, playing his first game since November 25th. Before his injury, Cates had four-points (1G / 3A) in 21 games, averaging 14:25 time-on-ice.

Brink will be a healthy scratch on Friday, exiting the lineup for the first time in over a month, allowing Nicolas Deslauries to draw back into the lineup. Brink has been held off the scoresheet in five straight games and has seen his ice-time dip to 12:07 after averaging 14:44 and scoring seven points (3G / 4A) in his previous 10.

Deslauries was a scratch in the last game after playing in three straight games for the Flyers but will return to the lineup on Friday. In his last outing, he played 7:43 time-on-ice, recorded three hits, and two shots on goal while playing on a line with Garnet Hathaway and Ryan Poehling.

Deslauries played in each of the last three games for the Flyers but will be a healthy scratch on Monday. In his last outing, he played 7:43 time-on-ice, recorded three hits, and two shots on goal while playing on a line with Garnet Hathaway and Ryan Poehling.

After a very busy December for Ersson, due in part to Carter Hart being out of the lineup because of an illness, Ersson will make only his second January start on Wednesday. Despite being winless in his last two starts, Ersson has been terrific lately for the Flyers, boasting a stellar .926 SV% in 12 games (8-2-2) since mid-November. The Flyers, who have lost five of their last six (1-3-2), have a favourable matchup as -175 home favourites against a Montreal Canadiens club that has scored three or fewer goals in five of their last six games (2-4-0).

Dysdale was traded for Cutter Gauthier is a surprise deal Monday and is expected to make his Flyers' debut Wednesday vs. Montreal as he partners with Travis Sanheim. The 21-year-old offensive defensemen heads to Philly after collecting five points (1G/4A) in 10 games after missing most of the early season due to a tornn labrum injury.

It's a shocking move considering Anaheim selected Drysdale sixth overall just three and a half years ago in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. Drysdale had played ten games with the Ducks this season, scoring one goal and adding four assists and was recently promoted to the team's top power-play unit. In exchange, the Ducks acquire the fifth-overall pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, Cutter Gauthier.