Monday, March 14, 2011
Posted: 4:07 p.m.Updated: 5:39 p.m.
By Sarah BaickerCSNPhilly.com
After remaining healthy through almost six months of the season, the Flyers' blue line has taken a hitand it's a big one. Defenseman Chris Pronger will undergo surgery to repair a small fracture in his right hand on Tuesday, and will miss three to four weeks.
The fracture was revealed Sunday by a CT scan. Pronger had previously had X-rays taken and underwent an MRI, but neither were able to pick up the break.
A CT scan is the most thorough," general manager Paul Holmgren said. "Obviously with continued concern about what was going on in there, we went ahead more for everybodys peace of mind, and this was discovered yesterday.
"The way were going to deal with it, the doctors along with Chris and (trainer) Jimmy McCrossin sat down and talked, and we feel going in and just putting a little screw in this little piece of bone is the best way to move forward in terms of the healing process and get him back playing as soon as possible.
The surgery will be performed in Cleveland, Ohio, by Dr. Tom Graham. Holmgren said he believes Pronger will likely be back on ice at least to skate by next weekend, and that he doesn't think he will miss any of the playoffs.
Pronger, 36, has missed six games because of the injury, which initially occurred Feb. 24 against the New York Islanders when he was hit by a shot from the Isles' Ty Wishart. He returned to action March 8 against the Oilers, but has missed both of the Flyers' games since.
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"He did jam his hand against the boards in the Edmonton game," Holmgren said. "Whether that made it worse or even caused that little break, we dont know."
Though he was spotted wearing a removable cast on Saturday, Pronger was originally expected to play in the Flyers' next game, Tuesday night against the Florida Panthers. That is, until the CT scan picked up the fracture.
Pronger declined to speak to reporters after Monday's practice in Florida.
Holmgren said the timeframe for recovery means Pronger will likely return to the Flyers somewhere between April 3 and the start of the playoffs. That said, because he will be able to work out and skate, he is expected to return at full capacity.
"I think hell be 100 percent," Holmgren said. "The reason they want to put the screw in is to make it more stable. Given the timeframe of recovery after the surgery in three weeks, everybody seems to think its going to be more stable than it ever was, and it takes away any risk of re-injuring it."
The Flyers will call up defenseman Erik Gustafsson because of Pronger's absence. While Holmgren could not discuss whether there are plans to give the 22-year-old Adirondack Phantom any ice time, he will join the team initially as insurance against injury while the Flyers are on the road in Atlanta and Dallas later this week.
Gustafsson played one game for the Flyers earlier this season, Feb. 26 at Ottawa.
"I thought Erik played a good game," Holmgren said. "He played real good."
E-mail Sarah Baicker at sbaicker@comcastsportsnet.com
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