DETROIT -- Mike Testwuide says there was nothing he could do when Brendan Smith unexpectedly turned his back to the boards in the first period.
The puck was dumped in the corner, Im a big guy who needs to get in there and make a hit right away, said the Flyers 6-foot-3, 210-pound winger after Fridays 3-1 exhibition win over the Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena.
We were shoulder-to-shoulder and he made a cut move back and we were square in the numbers. Its kind of hard when he cuts back right away. Its unfortunate. Im glad hes OK.
That board hit from behind earned Testwuide a five-minute major, a game misconduct and a likely hearing with Brendan Shanahan on Saturday and a probable suspension, too.
Jody Shelley is already serving a 10-game suspension for a hit from behind (board check) against Torontos Darryl Boyce on Wednesday.
I need to do that kind of stuff to make this team and I am always going to go in there on the forecheck thinking hit first, Testwuide said.
Testwuide has no history for dirty hits and says hes never been suspended at any level of hockey.
NHL
Ill deal with it when it comes, he said.
The win concluded four games in four nights and left the Flyers at 2-1-1 in preseason.
Shanahan already has established hes going to lay down harsh penalties for all hits from behind. So, its a logical conclusion Testwuide is going to get at least a game.
The only question is how long it will take the league office to dispense justice. On Thursday, a decision didnt come down until after 7 p.m.
Anytime you lose a player that early in a game, it takes the role out of the lines and Im sure he wants to play the game and show what he can do, said coach Peter Laviolette. Itll be interesting to talk to the league because this is all new.
We got the DVD a couple of days ago and showed it to the entire team. Hes a guy with a clean reputation, he goes in on the forecheck and the kid turns completely back on the puck and gets splattered against the wall.
That may be Testwuides only life preserver because the new rules also say that the player being hit has to be aware of his own actions on the ice.
That first period also saw 39-year-old Jaromir Jagr, playing in his first NHL exhibition in over three years, pick up a goal and an assist to give the Flyers a 2-1 lead. Jagr finished plus-2.
Hes got a tremendous amount of skill, I thought he skated pretty well and he fits into the system, coach Peter Laviolette said. Pretty good game.
Jagrs magic hands produced a goal from James van Riemsdyk at 17:26.
Less than a minute later, he popped a puck up and over goalie Jimmy Howard to break a 1-1 tie. He played on Brayden Schenns line most of the night. Jagr logged 16:55 ice time, including 2:50 power play.
That line has a lot of chemistry, Laviolette said. JVR had a terrific game. The line was really good.
Jagr also had several splendid passes in this game, a couple of them blind and tape-to-tape.
Sick passes, Wayne Simmonds shouted at him.
Jagr was not impressed with himself.
It was worse than I expectedthe game is too quick for me; I have to get better, Jagr said, laughing. Its different, the skating. We still have two weeks to learn.
We had some shifts with a little cycle. Thats the way I wanted to play. Thats my game. But still, its first time we play together and we need to get used to each other.
Rookie center Matt Read, who continues to be impressive, picked up his first goal in exhibition play with a shot from the left circle, making it 3-1 midway into the second period.
Read played on Sean Couturiers line with Jakub Voracek.
Im working hard and trying to work well with my linemates, Read said. The harder you work, the more opportunities you get. I had my legs the whole game.
Sergei Bobrovsky worked his second game in the nets, looked strong and confident, and finished with 22 saves.
E-mail Tim Panaccio at tpanotch@comcast.net