By the time the New Jersey Devils scored the overtime game winner on Thursday, the Flyers’ bench was looking empty. Top forward Simon Gagne and top defenseman Kimmo Timonen both left the ice in yesterday’s contest and did not return. On top of missing Matt Carle to back spasms and the combination of Ryan Parent and Randy Jones on the injured reserve all ready, the Flyers have little to no room to face more injuries.
Also making the Flyers’ collective hearts jump in yesterday’s contest was defeseman Ossi Vaananen taking a wrist shot up high, followed by defenseman Luca Sbisa taking a lifted puck to his cheek bone. Both players dropped to the ground clutching their heads, but both returned with only surface damage.
Luckily for the Flyers, Gagne’s injury does not involve concussion symptoms. He was simply ill the day of the game and suffering dehydration, cramped up too severely to return. He should be ready to return on Dec. 6. against Carolina Hurricanes at the Wachovia Center.
“It’s not related to concussions,” Gagne stated definitively. “ I just felt sluggish a little bit today and we decided for me to sit out in the third period and get some fluids inside of me.”
Timonen suffered an “upper body injury”, that was later diagnosed as a shoulder contusion. He sat out practice on Friday, but should be available to play on Dec. 6.
Matt Carle’s injury is a bit more severe and will keep him out past Dec. 6. He is day-to-day.
Phila.Bright 