Thursday, March 10, 2011
Posted: 12:35 p.m.Updated: March 11, 8:04 a.m.By Tim Panaccio
CSNPhilly.com
TORONTO -- Chris Pronger went through the normal pregame skate Thursday at Air Canada Centre.
Then he stayed on the ice an additional 25 minutes working out with Nikolay Zherdev and the assistant coaches, while the others went off.
And yet Pronger missed Thursday's win over the playoff-desperate Maple Leafs with what is believed to be pain in his bruised right hand.
No one from the Flyers would confirm if its his hand or another injury, but given the ice bags Pronger has been wearing lately, that seems the logical guess.
Upper body injury, day-to-day, was how general manager Paul Holmgren termed it.
Pronger blocked a shot against the Islanders on Feb. 24. That was six games ago. He missed the next game against Ottawa, but has played since. He appeared fine during Tuesdays 4-1 win over Edmonton.
NHL
All questions go to Paul Holmgren, Pronger said.
Asked if the hand was re-injured, flared-up or when it happened, he would not elaborate.
My answer is not going to change, Pronger said, deflecting comment to Holmgren.
Coach Peter Laviolette -- who never talks about injured players, roster moves or lineup changes -- did the same.
Prongers absence means Nick Boynton, who the Flyers claimed off waivers on Feb. 26, will make his Flyer debut. Boynton had been a healthy scratch for four games since arriving here from Chicago.
It looks like Im playingIve been told to be prepared to play, Boynton said leaving the rink, before Prongers status was known.
Brian Boucher gets the start in goal.
E-mail Tim Panaccio at tpanotch@comcast.net
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