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Panaccio: Briere Ready to Go | Flyers Weekly Report
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Danny Briere is ready to return to action after missing nine games with a groin injury. (AP)
By Tim Panaccio
CSNPhilly.com
At one point last week, Danny Briere began to wonder whether his groin pull was actually worse than either he or the Flyers believed.
“It was an injury, at first, I thought was just minor and I’d miss maybe three or four games, at the most and I’d be back,” said Briere, who skated Monday at Skate Zone and expects to play Tuesday night against Tampa Bay. “It was very frustrating this [past] weekend. I thought I’d be ready to go.”
He wasn’t. Now he says he is finally ready after missing nine games.
If Briere and Jeff Carter (sore right shoulder) play, the Flyers will have a healthy lineup of forwards for the first time in 10 games.
Briere skated Monday with Joffrey Lupul and Andreas Nodl, a line he is expected to center -- assuming, he plays.
“Rest was the key,” Briere said. “It’s tough taking days off and missing games, but it’s the way it is. It’s looking better and better. Today it felt pretty good. Once again, [I’m] probable I guess.”
What had been holding Briere back was his inability to start/stop on the ice because of the pain in his left groin. He said that is no longer an issue.
“Today, everything was really good, I don’t feel I was restrained by anything,” he said. “[Before] I had a hard time taking off and my game is start and stops. That’s basically what I want to wait for. My quickness down low.”
Coach John Stevens said he plans to increase Briere’s ice time gradually, which is the standard procedure for any player coming back from a groin pull. Stevens likes to have “pairs” on the ice on every unit. Simon Gagne and Briere have been pairs for most of the past two years when both were healthy.
Yet during Briere’s absence, Mike Richards has mostly centered Gagne and Mike Knuble and they’ve been one of the most effective lines in the NHL. In eight games with Richards centering them, they’ve combined for 10 goals and 24 points. That’s three points a game.
Stevens said that chemistry needs to be retained right now.
“Danny gives us another threat on another line there,” Stevens said. “Not to say they won’t end up together. There are situations where they will play together. That line, we put them together for a while now and they continue to do good things, offensively and defensively. They’re set up to kill penalties together and power play together. This allows us a little more options.”
Stevens plans to use Briere and Carter on the same power play unit to get two, right-handed shots on the ice, with likely one at the point.
Loose pucks
Riley Cote (oblique tear) is also expected back against Tampa Bay. He has missed 12 games. “Going out is hard, injuries happen, you have to stay positive,” he said. Asked about the possibility that ex-Flyer Steve Downie, now playing with the Bolts, might decide to enact some revenge for being traded, Cote said, “Downs plays with a chip on his shoulder and that’s a great thing. He plays hard. I don’t think any of us has spent any time worrying about what he might do … If something needs to be dealt with, we’ve got guys on the bench to take care of that … If he wants to prove a point, we’ll prove a point back.” Cote said he will not intentionally seek a fight to get himself fully acclimated to his role again. … Carter missed practiced to get treatment on his sore right shoulder. He expects to play. “It’s getting better, still a little sore,” Carter said. … Stevens said if Briere plays, Carter will center Scottie Upshall and Scott Hartnell. ... This will be the Flyers first game head-to-head against Rick Tocchet, the Bolts’ new coach.
At one point last week, Danny Briere began to wonder whether his groin pull was actually worse than either he or the Flyers believed.
“It was an injury, at first, I thought was just minor and I’d miss maybe three or four games, at the most and I’d be back,” said Briere, who skated Monday at Skate Zone and expects to play Tuesday night against Tampa Bay. “It was very frustrating this [past] weekend. I thought I’d be ready to go.”
He wasn’t. Now he says he is finally ready after missing nine games.
If Briere and Jeff Carter (sore right shoulder) play, the Flyers will have a healthy lineup of forwards for the first time in 10 games.
Briere skated Monday with Joffrey Lupul and Andreas Nodl, a line he is expected to center -- assuming, he plays.
“Rest was the key,” Briere said. “It’s tough taking days off and missing games, but it’s the way it is. It’s looking better and better. Today it felt pretty good. Once again, [I’m] probable I guess.”
What had been holding Briere back was his inability to start/stop on the ice because of the pain in his left groin. He said that is no longer an issue.
“Today, everything was really good, I don’t feel I was restrained by anything,” he said. “[Before] I had a hard time taking off and my game is start and stops. That’s basically what I want to wait for. My quickness down low.”
Coach John Stevens said he plans to increase Briere’s ice time gradually, which is the standard procedure for any player coming back from a groin pull. Stevens likes to have “pairs” on the ice on every unit. Simon Gagne and Briere have been pairs for most of the past two years when both were healthy.
Yet during Briere’s absence, Mike Richards has mostly centered Gagne and Mike Knuble and they’ve been one of the most effective lines in the NHL. In eight games with Richards centering them, they’ve combined for 10 goals and 24 points. That’s three points a game.
Stevens said that chemistry needs to be retained right now.
“Danny gives us another threat on another line there,” Stevens said. “Not to say they won’t end up together. There are situations where they will play together. That line, we put them together for a while now and they continue to do good things, offensively and defensively. They’re set up to kill penalties together and power play together. This allows us a little more options.”
Stevens plans to use Briere and Carter on the same power play unit to get two, right-handed shots on the ice, with likely one at the point.
Loose pucks
Riley Cote (oblique tear) is also expected back against Tampa Bay. He has missed 12 games. “Going out is hard, injuries happen, you have to stay positive,” he said. Asked about the possibility that ex-Flyer Steve Downie, now playing with the Bolts, might decide to enact some revenge for being traded, Cote said, “Downs plays with a chip on his shoulder and that’s a great thing. He plays hard. I don’t think any of us has spent any time worrying about what he might do … If something needs to be dealt with, we’ve got guys on the bench to take care of that … If he wants to prove a point, we’ll prove a point back.” Cote said he will not intentionally seek a fight to get himself fully acclimated to his role again. … Carter missed practiced to get treatment on his sore right shoulder. He expects to play. “It’s getting better, still a little sore,” Carter said. … Stevens said if Briere plays, Carter will center Scottie Upshall and Scott Hartnell. ... This will be the Flyers first game head-to-head against Rick Tocchet, the Bolts’ new coach.
E-mail Tim Panaccio at tpanotch@comcast.net
Flyers' van Riemsdyk, Flu, May Play Against Devils By Tim Panaccio CSNPhilly.com On a Sunday when the Flyers did not skate, but met for meetings to prep for Monday’s encounter against New Jersey, they got some welcome news. Rookie forward James van Riemsdyk, who missed Saturday’s 3-2 loss against Buffalo with the flu, is feeling better. “He stayed home again today, but [trainer Jim McCrossin] talked to him and he’s feeling a lot better, he’s starting to eat and getting his energy back,” said coach John Stevens. “We’re hopeful he can play tomorrow.” The Flyers have been taking extra precautions this season to assure that every player has his own water bottle at practice and games, and that they are sterilized daily. There are enough Purell dispensers on the walls to fill a vat. If JVR is healthy enough and no longer considered infectious, it prevents the Flyers from making a tough call. The team is slated to leave for the West Coast immediately after Monday night’s game against New Jersey. Given how sick van Riemsdyk was on Saturday, it’s likely he would have had to remain behind had the Flyers been leaving that night for California or if his flu worsened. Stevens admitted he wanted JVR away from the team. His symptoms were much worse, he said, than other players who had the flu the past two weeks. Monday’s game against the Devils, who overtook Pittsburgh last week as the Atlantic Division leader, is huge given New Jersey now has a seven-point lead on the Flyers. “It will be a good test,” Stevens said. “Jersey is playing extremely well. They’re probably the most patient team in the league. Defensively, they will wait you out to the 60th minute if they have to, to beat you. They’re very good at.” As much as the Islanders may be the “surprise” team in the Atlantic Division, Jacques Lemaire has done a commendable job getting the Devils playing the kind of hockey that beckons back to their Stanley Cup years. “They don’t give you a lot of opportunities,” Stevens said. “We’re going to have to show some determination and patience in our own end here. You are not going to get the wide open chances … they’re playing with confidence right now. And [Marty] Brodeur is playing with confidence.” After a shaky start, Brodeur has catapulted himself to the No. 1 spot among all NHL goaltenders with a 2.16 goals against average, .921 save percentage at 12-4-0 record, while having played 971 minutes in 16 games. E-mail Tim Panaccio at tpanotch@comcast.net
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