When the Flyers signed Carlo Colaiacovo on Oct. 30 to fortify their defense, Braydon Coburn and Andrew MacDonald were both out of the lineup with injuries.
Colaiacovo was the eighth man and immediately got into the lineup after a couple days of practice — he had no NHL training camp — then played five of the next six games on the blue line.
Coburn returned sooner than expected and then MacDonald returned sooner, as well, forcing Colaiacovo to the press box.
And that is where the soon-to-be 32-year-old defenseman has been ever since. As in a career-high 26 consecutive games as a healthy scratch — more than a quarter season.
The exile ends on Wednesday night when Colaiacovo replaces Coburn (suspected left foot fracture/four weeks) against the Capitals in Washington.
Essentially, Colaiacovo has become this year’s Hal Gill, who sat an astounding 44 games — more than half the season — until being called upon in last spring’s playoffs.
Obviously, this isn’t what the Toronto native envisioned when he agreed to his one-year, two-way deal of $625,000. But ... he has a job.
“This has definitely been a first for me and a tough mental grind,” Colaiacovo said. “It’s preparing me for an opportunity like this. Unfortunately, it happens through injury, but I don’t control those fates.
“Just how hard I work and being mentally and physically ready and I’ve done that and more. Emotions can’t even describe how I feel right now. I really look forward to getting back in there.”
Tonight’s game against the Caps is another instance where the Flyers desperately need points to claw back into the wild-card hunt, however remote those chances may seem.
Flyers coach Craig Berube, himself a healthy scratch during periods of his career as an enforcer, knows what Colaiacovo is going through, though Berube never sat this many games in succession.
“I talk to Coly a lot,” Berube said. “We've got good communication. The guys do a good job keeping him sharp on the ice. ... You've gotta constantly talk to those guys and tell them they are important because they are. We need them. Happens all the time.”
The challenge is maintaining a so-called "stiff upper lip," or trying to find some black humor and not become a drag on the rest of the team.
Gill was so good at this role that the Philadelphia chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association nominated him last year for the Masterton Trophy, given annually to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.
Gill’s ribald sense of humor in the dressing room never allowed his sitting to become an issue.
“That’s really important because it can go the other way,” Berube said. “They are really good team guys and they stay positive. It’s a hard thing to do.”
Teammates say Colaiacovo has handled this awkward situation as well as Gill, never complaining. Even when he had every right to, because Berube is known for benching and rotating his defensemen yet for some reason has yet to rotate Colaiacovo into a single game.
“Very frustrating,” Colaiacovo said of his dilemma. “I am at the point of my career where I feel I still have a lot to give and I have not been given that opportunity to show it.
“The longer it kept going, the more frustrating it became. When you are dealing with times and frustration like that, the best thing to do is talk to somebody. The coaches and my teammates have been great communicators keeping me mentally and physically focused.”
Luke Schenn, no stranger to sitting games out, was one of the players Colaiacovo opened up to.
He could sympathize.
“He’s gone through a tough stretch there where he hasn’t been able to get into the lineup, but he’s been staying with it and working hard and kept as good an attitude as he can,” Schenn said. “No question, he is a good guy to have around the dressing room.”
Schenn will be Colaiacovo’s on-ice partner tonight.
Colaiacovo’s obstacle against the Capitals is the physical aspect of playing 16 to 18 minutes in game conditions. You can’t simulate that in practice.
“There’s a huge difference,” Colaiacovo said. “You’re talking about guys in mid-season form playing every night.
“For me, if I make that my focus, then I am already one step behind. This has to be, go in there, play smart, keep it simple and just do the things I am known for doing.”
At least Colaiacovo can take comfort in knowing he has a change in residence for the next month or so.