In a bit of a surprise, Danny Briere will miss Saturday nights game against Carolina with an upper body injury.
A club source said Briere had a minor injury that is not expected to extend beyond this game.
Coach Peter Laviolette said he will move Matt Read, a natural center who has been all over the Flyers lineup since training camp, up to center.
Read will work between James van Riemsdyk and Jakub Voracek. Briere, who played a season-high 21:48 in his last game against Winnipeg, was between JVR and Wayne Simmonds in that game.
Hes been bouncing around but hes a natural center, Laviolette said about Read. We moved him over there to win because there was a logjam. Thats the good thing about our lineup since Ive been heretheres been extra centermen.
Thats always a positive. I think its an easier adjustment to play the wing. Its a bigger adjustment to play center in the down low position and supporting position of the boards. Weve moved a couple of guys. Max Talbot has played some wing. Brayden Schenn has played some wing.
Read centered JVR and Vorcek in three previous games recently.
NHL
Its not really a big deal at center, he said. All over the ice you support your linemates. If someone is down low in the defensive zone you have to take his spot. Its the same responsibilities all over the ice. The only difference is youre taking faceoffs.
Laviolette is impressed at how Read thinks in the game. Read says its easier because these are professional players, many of whom have been around the NHL a while.
The main reason is you are playing with exceptional players, he said. Everyone on the ice is smarter and it makes the game a lot easier when you are playing with smarter players.
Its easier to read off guys who know what they are doing out there. I wouldnt say I have the best vision out there, the games click for me. Im just trying to do the best I can and learn as much as I can throughout the season and get better every night.
E-mail Tim Panaccio at tpanotch@comcast.net