SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Danny Briere was lucky. He could have broken his neck.
Late in Tuesdays 1-0 loss at HP Pavilion, Briere was pushed head first into the corner boards by the Sharks Marc-Edouard Vlasic without a penalty.
Briere laid out on the ice shaken while Flyers medical personnel hurried to his side.
Incredibly, the lithe centerman was not seriously injured.
Usually, when were in that position, guys will bear hug you or go around you, Briere said. I was trying to create a pick for Jaromir Jagr. He was right behind me, the puck was coming around the boards.
I never expected to be bulldozed there. It was scary. I was fortunate that it wasnt worse that it was.
I was just lost there. I kinda flipped around. I was dizzy there for a couple of seconds. I had not clue what happened.
NHL
Briere had a concussion on Jan. 21, but says he feels fine after this incident. He went to the bench but returned the next shift.
Well, he was alright, Vlasic said. He came back the next shift, which was good to see. I was going back, and he was too, and he stopped right into me.
My momentum carried me forward. The ref saw it that way, and thats what he said. Im going in there to get the puck and it just happened he turned into me, and he got the worst of it.
The play will be reviewed by NHL Lord of Discipline, Brendan Shanahan, for a possible suspension. Vlasic has no history for these kind of hits. That will factor into Shanahans decision.
That non call didnt change any part of the game, but it was a dangerous play, no doubt about it, Briere said of Vlasic not being penalized.
Briere didnt want to comment for Shanahan on a possible suspension.
No shots
Claude Giroux was held without a shot for the first time since March 26, 2011 -- or 66 games.
Im not gonna get 10 shots a game, said Giroux, who had 10 against Winnipeg last week. Its going to happen. I know I got to better in those kind of games. Games like that I want to play better. Our line didnt play every well. We need to keep it more simple.
Loose pucks
Logan Couture (lower body) and Swedish lumberjack of a defenseman Doug Murray (adams apple) were injured for San Jose. Sharks are so shorthanded at forward that former Flyer blueliner Jim Vandermeer has dressed as a forward three straight gamesWith Sharks coach Todd McLellan concussed, San Jose assistant coaches Matt Shaw and Jay Woodcroft handled the game, splitting forward and defensive assignmentsIlya Bryzgalov started all four games on 10-road trip ... He gave up two goals on Calgarys first two shots on Saturday in Calgary ... Kimmo Timonen had just 14:30 ice time in the game, well under his 21:32 averageThis was the Flyers last game of the regular season outside of the Eastern time zone and their last road game of the year against a Western Conference opponent ... The six total penalty minutes between the two teams is the lowest total for a Flyers game this season.
E-mail Tim Panaccio at tpantoch@comcast.net