Injuries Mounting for Flyers

The Flyers have been the surprise team in the NHL this season, after suffering through their worst season in the team's 40 year history in 2006-2007. Currently in third place in the East with 65 points (four behind division leading Pittsburgh) and sixth in the Eastern Conference, the Flyers have had a substantial turnaround. After all, they had only achieved 57 points through the entire season last year. But the feel good story in Philadelphia has come to a steady halt as the team has gone 5-5 in their last ten games and seem to lose a player every night. Last night's lost to Pittsburgh, the first to the Penguins this season, resulted in not just an L but a dent in their lineup. Simon Gagne was injured in the first period with what appeared to be his third concussion in four months. Gagne, who missed 30 games combined after his first two, hope to return before the end of the 2007-2008 season. He is just another player added to the list. Joffrey Lupul just returned to the ice on February 9th after missing more than a month with a spinal cord contusion and a concussion. Currently out are defensemen Rory Fitzpatrick (sports hernia, since 1/16) and Braydon Coburn (ruptured artery, since 2/10) as well as winger Scottie Upshall (ankle, 2/16). None of the three are expected to return within the next week. Fitzpatrick and Coburn may be out for at least another 10-14 days. Despite Gagne missing as much time as he has, he is still a point/game kind of player (illustrated by his 25 points in 25 games this season). It is hard to justify the losses of Fitzpatrick and Coburn, though their defensive prowess has helped fill a hug hole on the Flyers blueline. Hopefully the team can stay strong and stay in the thick of the Eastern Conference race. Anything can happen in the playoffs.


*NOTE: This isn't meant as an excuse. Every team has injuries. The Pens are playing without Crosby and the Avalanche are playing sans their top three guys. Many other teams have injuries too.

I'd also like to welcome back the Rangers to the race. What the hell were they doing the first three months of the season?

And totally unrelated to hockey...a great find by Kelly Ross. How did I miss that?