Flyers activate Czech goaltender Dan Vladar off injured reserve 2 weeks before the Olympics

COLUMBUS, Ohio(AP) — The Philadelphia Flyers activated goaltender Dan Vladar off injured reserve Wednesday, clearing him to return at night against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Vladar missed the past two weeks after leaving a game at Buffalo with what the team called a lower-body injury. The Flyers have lost four of six games since.

At 28 now after being mostly a backup since reaching the NHL, Vladar was in the middle of arguably the best season of his career when he got hurt. He is 16-7-4 with a 2.46 goals-against average that ranks ninth in the league and a .905 save percentage that is good for 18th among netminders with at least 20 appearances.

Vladar was one of three goalies chosen to play for the Czech Republic at the upcoming Olympics in Milan. Anaheim’s Lukas Dostal is expected to be the Czech starter, with Vladar and Utah’s Karel Vejmelka competing to back up.

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