After a weekend of bad bounces, poor luck and disappointing outcomes, the Flyers received some good news Tuesday morning.
As hes hinted about in recent days, Danny Briere will return to the lineup tonight against the New York Islanders at the Wells Fargo Center.
Im back in it, Briere said after the morning skate. Things have been going well the last two and a half, three days. I feel ready. I feel like its time. No symptoms the last few days, so well give it a go. I know Im excited.
Briere hasnt played since sustaining a concussion Jan. 21 against the New Jersey Devils. The Flyers have gone 2-2-2 in his absence, including back-to-back losses against the Devils and New York Rangers this weekend.
The Flyers center is optimistic his return can provide the team with some extra energy.
Hopefully I can provide a little spark, he said. Its been a little tough lately, at least since the breakespecially at home. We dont like our record at home, its something we want to improve. So hopefully I can come in and help out in that department.
Briere has been back on the ice practicing with the Flyers since Jan. 30. Despite having taken more than a week of restand not having seen game action for more than two weekshe isnt concerned about his conditioning or the possibility of nagging symptoms.
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Im 100 percent, Briere said. Its all about the symptoms. Its not like a knee or a shoulder where youre finding your way back. Basically when you dont have symptoms, youre ready to go. Its not something thats lingering and preventing you from doing a few things. Whenever youre symptom free, youre 100 percent. It shouldnt be an issue.
Its been a bit of a slow year offensively for Briere, who has 13 goals and 17 assists in 43 games. But having the veteran return to the lineup isnt just about what he can bring to the score sheet.
Danny has been great, coach Peter Laviolette said. He's a good teammate and has a lot of experience. On and off the ice, that's valuable.
Brieres return, offered Laviolette, adds more depth and balance to our attack up front. It makes it a little more difficult to focus on one player or one line.
Last Friday, Briere began to look at the Flyers schedule and eye possibilities for his return. Though he had been feeling better for a couple days at that point, Briere thought returning over the weekend would be too soon.
Just as it was for Flyers fans, it was tough for Briere to sit on the sidelines and watch the Flyers two games this weekend (a 6-4 loss to New Jersey and a 5-2 loss to the Rangers).
The game against Jersey was very frustrating, Briere said. The way we started the game. In New York, I really thought we deserved a better fate. I really liked the effort the guys put in. The work, the fightsguys were fighting for everything. We didnt get some of the bounces, but I thought overall it was definitely a game to build on.
It wasnt all negative, even though we lost the game. We come in with the same fighting attitude tonight, well be in good shape.
The Flyers will face a tougher-than-you-think opponent tonight in the Islanders. The Isles are 6-2-2 in their last 10 games, and that includes the last time they played in Philadelphia, an ugly 4-1 loss for the Flyers, who were outplayed in every aspect of the game.
Theyre a dangerous team, Briere said. We saw what happened here the last time they were in our building, basically embarrassed us. Theyre a team thats tough to play againstthey have nothing to lose at this point.
We said it after last game: youre not ready to play against them, theyre going to make you pay the price. Weve struggled with our starts lately, another reason for us to be ready when the puck drops.
E-mail Sarah Baicker at sbaicker@comcastsportsnet.com