Source: Flyers' Pronger out for Game 2 vs. Sabres

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Friday, April 15, 2011
Posted: 1:38 p.m.Updated: 3:01 p.m.

By Tim Panaccio
CSNPhilly.com

Chris Pronger skated again Friday morning with Oskars Bartulis and Ian Laperriere.

The Flyers defenseman was on the ice 51 minutes, doing some light passing but no shooting.

A source told CSNPhilly.com that Pronger is out until at least Game 3 - if not longer -- depending upon how the series goes.

Again, the fact Pronger is not shooting pucks pretty much says it all.

With him, you never know, said Danny Briere. No one tells us much. It doesnt change a thing. Our preparation is not any different if he is in the lineup or not. I dont change my game plan. I have to focus on myself and it should be the same way for every one of us.
Long time
Patrick Kaletas goal came 45:56 into the game during the final period. That is the longest period of time without a goal being scored in a Flyers playoff game since April 17, 2002, when the Flyers beat Ottawa 1-0 in Game 1 of an Eastern Conference Quarterfinals series on a goal by Ruslan Fedotenko 7:47 into the first overtime (67:47).
What to change
Really, there's not a lot to change for the Flyers. They know that. Buffalo knows that. Score a few goals. That might help.

I dont think we have to change much, Claude Giroux said. I think we had a lot of chances and we put a lot of pucks on net. We had a lot of attempts but its just that I think weve got to find the back of the net and keep shooting those pucks.

I think everybody showed up. I dont think one guy played bad. I think you play as a team and thats why we got so far last year, playing as a team. Weve just got to find the same game tomorrow.
Buffalo heroics
Rookie defenseman Marc-Andre Gragnani got the game-winning assist on Patrick Kaletas goal. He had a habit of getting big points at the right time.

He had an assist in a 1-0 win over the Rangers and an overtime goal against Carolina that were big points for the Sabres during their drive to survive stretch run to the playoffs.

He also plays critical minutes at the end of games, like he did in Game 1.

Theyre not going to put someone on the ice with a minute left that they dont have confidence in, Gragnani said. Obviously, thats a big boost for my confidence.

As to whether hes getting a rep for big-time points, he doesnt think so.

I havent been here long enough to get a reputation yet, Gragnani said.
Sabre injured change
On the Buffalo defense, Shaone Morrisonn suffered an undisclosed injury during the game and did not practice. Coach Lindy Ruff would not comment but there was speculation he may have sustained a concussion. If he can't play, look for Andrej Sekera to replace him in the lineup.
Stevens
NHL sources say John Stevens is getting a look for the head coaching job in Minnesota. The ex-Flyer coach is Terry Murray's assistant in Los Angeles.

E-mail Tim Panaccio at tpanotch@comcast.net

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