So much for the short-lived good news on Claude Giroux from last night.
The Flyersand NHLspoints leader has a concussion, the team said Tuesday. He will be out indefinitely.
Claude reported not feeling very good today, general manager Paul Holmgren said in a statement. Over the past few days, his symptoms have gradually gotten worse. He will be out indefinitely with a concussion.
Last night in Chicago, Holmgren said the Flyers were hopeful Girouxs symptoms were related to whiplash and not a concussion (see blog post). However, Giroux didn't travel with the Flyers to Washington D.C., where the team will face the Capitals tonight, and was considered questionable for Thursday's game in Montreal.
He was scheduled to be re-evaluated today, and it appears the news stemming from his meeting with team doctors wasn't good, despite a handful of updates from the team in recent days stating Giroux was feeling better each day.
Giroux was accidentally kneed in the back of the head in the second period of Saturday's 5-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning by teammate Wayne Simmonds. He left the game and didn't return to play in the third period, though Holmgren said he was held out only for "precautionary reasons."
The loss of their top line center is a huge blow to the Flyers. Giroux leads the team in points (39), goals (16) and assists (23). He's second on the team in power-play goals with five. He joins a hefty list of injured players that includes: Chris Pronger, Brayden Schenn, Andreas Lilja and Erik Gustafsson.
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In practice on Monday, and likely at least for tonight's game in Washington, rookie Sean Couturier took over for Giroux at center on a line with Jaromir Jagr and Scott Hartnell (see story).
Couturier saw some time on that line in the third period on Saturday, and coach Peter Laviolette said he was pleased with what he saw from the 19-year-old center.
E-mail Sarah Baicker at sbaicker@comcastsportsnet.com