Another concussion: Briere out indefinitely

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NEWARK, N.J. -- Never mind the fact that Danny Briere had trouble getting to his feet after taking a hit from New Jersey Devils defenseman Anton Volchenkov in the third period. The first real clue that something was amiss with the Flyers' center came immediately postgame.

In the team's locker room here at the Prudential Center, Briere sat quietly with his head bent down as he was attended to by a member of the training staff after the Flyers' 4-1 victory (see story). He looked pallid, shaky and unlike himself.

Without a word, he was whisked away, presumably to be further evaluated. It is extremely unlike Briere not to address the media after a game.

Moments later, Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren said Briere sustained a concussion and is out indefinitely.

"I'm not too good right now," Briere said in a text to CSNPhilly.com. "I don't even know what happened."

Briere returned to the game after a separate Volchenkov hit at 14:09 into the first period. But in addition to that hit and the one at 12:43 of the third period, he received a high stick to the head from Brad Mills. He was also punched head-on by winger Patrik Elias.

Elias did not receive a penalty for the punch, which occurred with less than two minutes left in the game.

Briere is the sixth Flyer to suffer a concussion this season, joining Chris Pronger, Matt Read, Brayden Schenn, Claude Giroux and James van Riemsdyk.

Rookie Sean Couturier suffered a head injury too, but was not concussed.

Jaromir Jagr and Zac Rinaldo were also injured during the game (see story). Jagr said he won't play on Sunday against the Boston Bruins, and Rinaldo is day to day.

The Flyers have recalled Ben Holmstrom and Tom Sestito from the Adirondack Phantoms for the game.

Expect to see Harry Zolnierczyk back in the lineup against the Bruins. Depending on Rinaldo's health, either Holmstrom or Sestito -- or both -- could also see some playing time.
E-mail Sarah Baicker at sbaicker@comcastsportsnet.com

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