It could have been a lot worse for Chris Pronger.
As it is, the Flyers captain is expected to miss up to two weeks after taking a stick to the right eye during Mondays 4-2 win over Toronto at Wells Fargo Center.
Its a very scary incident for Chris and all of us to come off the ice like that, general manager Paul Holmgren said. He had a little bit of a cut on the outside of the right eye. The eye doctor Stephen Goldman checked him out thoroughly.
Hes got a little bit of an issue with his eye. Over the next three or four days, no real concern other than swelling or something behind the eye. Hes going to be on bed rest for the next three days.
The hope is hell be fine in a few weeks here. He will see the eye doctor for the next four days.
Pronger would then begin an exercise program and rejoin the club within 10 days or two weeks to skate again. Holmgren said Pronger would wear a visor when he comes back.
Holmgren cautioned the time frame was for Pronger rejoining the team and not necessarily returning to the lineup.
NHL
To me, its not an issue, players should wear them, Holmgren said. Some of these guys have been around a long time and for whatever reason dont want to wear them. When Chris comes back, hell be wearing a visor.
At 11:57 of the first period, Pronger was struck in the face by Mikhail Grabovski's stick during a follow-through of a shot in the left circle.
Pronger does not wear a shield. The stick caught him flush. Pronger hurriedly left the ice, clutching his right eye. Because that was incidental contact off a shot, it is not considered a high-sticking penalty.
Pronger was not hospitalized as Goldman was called to the arena.
You try to block it out as much as possible, Danny Briere said. Obviously, it is on the back of all of our minds and we wish him the best and that he will be OK. But once you are on the ice you try not to think about it as much and just play the game.
The Flyers are hoping blood does not build up around the eye; hence the bed rest, Holmgren said.
Pronger missed 32 regular season games and eight playoff games last year with recurring back and wrist injuries that required multiple surgeries.
E-mail Tim Panaccio at tpanotch@comcast.net.