Mark Alt just fine with being Flyers' emergency call

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Mark Alt has become the fire extinguisher behind the glass case that says: Break in the event of an emergency.

That’s what the Flyers were forced to do with the 26-year-old defenseman who prepared for his second NHL game Monday as Samuel Morin was deemed unavailable against the Coyotes. Alt, like everyone else, believed Morin was healthy enough to play.

“That’s what everybody thought,” Alt said. “A little bit of a surprise this morning. Still had a regular practice for me. It’s the second time it’s happened this way. I guess that’s how it’s going to be."

The first time came on March 28, 2015, in a noon game against the San Jose Sharks, when he played 9:25 and finished with a minus-1 rating in a 3-2 shootout loss. 

“That was even more tricky,” Alt said. “They told me the night before to be on call, essentially on standby. I got the call around 8 or 9 in the morning and I was here for a [noon game].”

While Alt was part of the last round of cuts during Flyers training camp, he has arguably been Lehigh Valley’s best all-around defenseman. He’s the only blueliner to play in the Phantoms' first 10 games, posting two goals, six points and a plus-6 rating. 

“I think I’m going to keep doing what I’m doing in Allentown,” Alt said. “It’s good to be healthy. I’m just going to keep doing what I have been and hopefully that’s what they’re looking for, and keep that rolling.

“Anytime you get an opportunity to play, it’s an awesome feeling, so I’m excited.”

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