Thursday, April 21, 2011
Posted: 3:20 p.m.Updated 5:16 p.m.
By Tim Panaccio
CSNPhilly.com
A decision on Chris Pronger's availability for Game 5 will be made at the morning skate on Friday, according to team sources.
Pronger is expected to be available in a limited role, but everything hinges on how he feels Friday morning.
Officially, the Flyers are listing Pronger -- and everyone else with an injury -- as day-to-day.
What does a reduced role for Pronger mean?
Likely, no power play time. Pronger, who again skated on Thursday and was shooting wrist shots, has not played in a game since March 8 against Edmonton.
As usual, coach Peter Laviolette would not comment on Prongers availability, but did entertain a hypothetical question as to whether a limited Pronger could still have an impact in this playoff series.
NHL
Can Chris Pronger play in a game in a limited role and be a factor in the game? Yes, Laviolette said. You asked a hypothetical question and I gave you a hypothetical answer. Semi.
Will Pronger play a limited role in Game 5?
Next question, Laviolette replied.
As for Jeff Carter, a source said the Flyers center will be out for Game 5. He was spotted wearing a knee brace and it is likely he will miss the rest of the series.
Murder, he wrote
Flyer captain Mike Richards accused the Sabres of getting away with murder on the ice during Game 4.
Sabres goalie Ryan Miller responded to that today in Buffalo.
Murder, huh? Hes just trying to start spinning something, Miller said. Hes a smart guy. Hes been around a while. Hes been through a lot of these battles. He obviously knows some of the attention needs to be drawn to something.
I think hes just trying to draw attention away from himself. That elbow is something were trying to stay away from, and he threw it, not matter whos coming at him.
I know its Patty Kaleta and hes got a reputation, but Patty hadnt hit him yet. So we dont even know what Patty was going to do. He got an elbow in the face. I think its a big smokescreen. Mikes trying to throw everybody off his tail.
Lineup card
Obviously, Laviolette needs to replace Carter on the right side of Claude Girouxs line with James van Riemsdyk. He could put Darroll Powe up there. Powe is a swing forward who plays center and wing.
If that happens, then Laviolette could get Jody Shelley into the lineup on the fourth line, giving the Flyers more size, overall.
Ben Holstrom is a possibility, but hes a center and right now, Carters role was that of a center playing right wing and taking certain draws -- which is why Powe makes more sense.
Open gate
Great video shots out there of Patrick Kaleta opening the door to the Sabres bench deliberately as Nikolay Zherdev was being piled driven into the door.
As the door swings open, Zherdev falls onto the Sabres bench where Kaleta had just been sitting.
Kris Versteeg said you have to be aware of Kaleta on the ice, as well.
You never know what Patrick Kaleta is capable of, Versteeg said. He is a dangerous player out there when it comes down to it. You never know if he is going to run you from behind or hit you. It very much came down to Richie protecting himself. It was unfortunate he went to the box that long.
E-mail Tim Panaccio at tpanotch@comcast.net
Related: Sabres' Ruff rips Flyers as series' hostility buildsFlyers' impressive penalty kill not enough for win