Flyers' Couturier recovering from abdominal surgery

Philadelphia Flyers center Sean Couturier is recovering from abdominal muscle surgery performed last week, the team announced Wednesday.

General manager Ron Hextall said Couturier has started his rehabilitation and should be fully recovered in 5-6 weeks.

Flyers president Paul Holmgren, at his meeting with the media after their season ended, said Couturier could need surgery stemming from an stomach muscle issue that was diagnosed in January. Holmgren said at the time it was believed daily maintenance would resolve the problem.

Couturier had 13 goals and a career-best 39 points playing all 82 games for the first time in his three NHL seasons. He continued to evolve into a top defensive forward and anchored the Flyers' penalty-killing unit. He averaged 3:25 of shorthanded ice time per game in the regular season, tied with the Toronto Maple Leafs' Jay McClement for the most in the League among forwards. The Flyers had the seventh-best penalty killing in the League this season.