The Flyers’ banged-up defense nearly took another direct hit Tuesday night at Wells Fargo Center against the Anaheim Ducks.
Veteran blue liner Nicklas Grossmann went into the left back boards hard with 8:53 left in the second period on an unusual play. His left knee buckled and Ryan Kesler pushed him while letting up a bit.
Grossmann collapsed awkwardly and face first into the boards. He stayed on the ice amid a skirmish of players, then skated to the dressing room.
Kesler was not penalized.
When he left, he did not seem to be placing weight on his left leg, but returned late in the period to finish the game.
“I went awkward into the boards and got a little scared,” Grossmann said. “Everything is fine. I went in pretty fast. I wanted to make sure everything is intact. I didn’t see the play. I’m not going to comment on it.”
Goalie Steve Mason saw it up close.
“That was a scary play,” Mason said. “Anytime guys are going with good speed into the boards ... it looked like he lost his footing just as he was getting to the puck there.
“With Kesler right on him, it was a tough play for Grossmann to make. One of those plays as a hockey player that you hate to see and luckily he avoided injury.”
Grossmann changed defensive partners when he returned, going from Mark Streit to Andrew MacDonald.
Flyers coach Craig Berube said the switch wasn’t because Grossmann was hurting.
“That was just a change for this game right now,” Berube said. “Whether it continues or not we’ll see.”
The Flyers are already with Kimmo Timonen (blood clots), possibly out for the season, and Braydon Coburn (on crutches).
They came into the game with just 20 healthy players -- three under the roster limit.