Flyers notes: Leino benched; Briere & Betts injured

Share

Sunday, April 3, 2011
Posted: 11:25 a.m.Updated: 5:30 p.m.

By Tim Panaccio
CSNPhilly.com

Heres something Ville Leino is certainly not used to: being benched.

The Flyers left winger, who is stuck at 19 goals with just two markers in his last 11 games, played only two shifts in the third period of Sundays 3-2 shootout loss to the Rangers.

Thats the coachs decision, Leino said. Im OK. Obviously, I want to play and I want to be part of a tight battle like that, but thats the coachs decision.

Why was he benched?

I think I played a good first period, Leino replied. In the second, I had one or two bad shifts but not clearly too bad. I wasnt on my best gameI just felt like I wasnt inside the game the way I wanted, maybe won a battle out there. I just wasnt in the game the way I wanted.

Laviolette never throws his players under the bus in public. You normally dont bench a skill guy like Leino when Danny Briere (groin) and Blair Betts (lower body) are both injured. But the coach did.

We just shortened the bench in the third and tightened it up, Laviolette said.

Is there anything you need from him that you didnt see?

Again, we just shortened the bench and tightened things up, Laviolette replied.

Briere, Betts injured
Briere sat the game out with soreness in his groin, according to a club source. General manager Paul Holmgren said it was precautionary move to ensure Briere is healthy for the playoffs.

Betts was injured in the second period. He has a lower body injury. He was limping after the game.

Its probably going to keep him out for a few days, Holmgren said of Betts.

Briere and Betts may not play Friday night in Buffalo, Holmgren said. Both are likely out for Tuesdays game in Ottawa.

Holmgren said he wants to be cautious going into the playoffs.

Absolutely, he said. You know, the idea is to get in. Were in. Obviously, we still want to finish as high as possible but I dont think you can be short sighted and push when guys are banged up.

Thats like Danny Briere, theres nothing really serious with Danny but we just want to keep him out now. With Blair Betts, I think well have a better idea tomorrow, but nothing is going to keep him out of the playoffs. When we get to Fridays game, is he an option? Well, we will probably err on the side of caution with him too.

Briere had not missed a game this season for injury or illness, although he missed three games in early November for a suspension.

Loose pucks
Just three games remain for the Flyers to get their first shutout of the season. Odds dont look too good right now.Sean ODonnell won a first period decision over Brandon Prust.Seconds after scoring his goal, Ruslan Fedotenko was taken hard into the board on a clean check from Braydon Coburn. Brian Boyle objected to the hit, and threw down the gloves with Coburn for a draw.Rangers crushed the Flyers on faceoff through two periods, winning 58 percent of the draws.Flyers are 3-7 in 10 shootouts this season. They have lost four of their last five shootouts since March 17. James van Riemsdyk now has five goals in his last six games.Danny Syvret replaced Nick Boynton in the lineup on defense and was paired with Matt Carle.Claude Girouxs two-points have him 74. Its his eighth, 2-point game since the All-Star break. He has not gone more than two consecutive games without a point since Feb. 16-18. ... Flyers are 1-4-4 in their last nine home games.

E-mail Tim Panaccio at tpanotch@comcast.net

Related: Bobrovsky, Flyers fall to Rangers in shootoutBuy Flyers gear

Contact Us