VOORHEES, N.J. -- Danny Briere says the Flyers have told him not to talk about his back spasms.
Or whether hes going to centering Brayden Schenn and Jakub Voracek in Game 1 against the Penguins.
To be honest, Im not allowed to speak on any injuries or the roster or if Im going to play or not, Briere said with a smile on Monday.
All I can tell you isand you saw itIm practicing and working to get ready. Thats all Im allowed to say at this point.
OK, well say it for him: Just like Nicklas Grossmann, Briere is a player for Game 1 Wednesday in Pittsburgh.
Asked if he has any limitations right now, Briere replied, no, while adding there has been a big change (translation: positive) in how he feels this week versus last week.
Briere missed the final threegames of the regular season with back spasms, the result of an open ice hit from the Penguins Joe Vitale in the second-to-last meeting against Pittsburgh.
NHL
He said he had been skating over the weekend with some other injured players to stay in shape.
Earlier on Monday, goalie Ilya Bryzgalov said he feared the bear in the woods more than the Penguins.
Who does Briere fear more?
The bear, he laughed. Is there anything we fear about them? Obviously theyre a good team. Offensively, theyre extremely dangerous. We have to be careful. I think discipline is going to be a key factor for us.
If you give them too many opportunities on the power play, with the way they move the puck and all the skill they have up front, theyre going to hurt you. Thats one of the keys.
Getting serious, Briere, who has 29 lifetime playoff goals as a Flyer, and led the team with 30 playoff points in 2010 when Peter Laviolettes club advanced to the Stanley Cup Final, is a playoff warrior.
Oh, yeah, no doubt, Briere said. Its the best time of the year. Theres nothing like playoff hockey.
Its kind of the time that were all waiting for. Its one thing you work hard all season to get in the playoffs, but this is another level.
E-mail Tim Panaccio at tpanotch@comcast.net