Tonight the Pittsburgh Penguins come to Philly to play the Flyers at the Wachovia Center. This is the last meeting between the two teams this year. The Flyers lead the season series 5-2. Penguins won the last game 2-0 in Pittsburgh on March 12.
The Flyers are coming off a horrible 5-2 loss to the Maple Leafs on Saturday in Philly. The Penguins are coming off a 1-0 loss to the Lightning in Tampa Bay on Saturday
Denis Gauthier will miss the game serving the first of a two game suspension for a hit on Toronto Maple Leafs Kyle Wellwood.
Randy Jones who would be the expected call up to fill in for Gauthier has a concussion. Phantom defenseman David Printz is expected to make his NHL debut. Printz is a 6-5 220lb 25 year old from Sweden. He has played in 78 games this year with the Phantoms with 6 goals, 13 assists, a minus 5, 126 penalty minutes, 1 power play goal and 1 shorthanded goal.
Injuries for the Flyers include Keith Primea, Chris Therien, Kim Johnsson, and Peter Forsberg. Petr Nedved who has missed 4 games with a lower body injury is expected to start. Flyers trainer Jim McCrossin stated that both Therien and Johnsson have showed little progress with their concussion symptoms and it appears unlikey that either would be back this year, at all.
Injuries for the Penguins include Jocelyn Thibault, Ryan Vandenbussche, Matt Murly and Lyle Odelein.
Yesterday and still continuing today the buzz is all about Keith Primeau showing up to practice and practicing and actually getting a little physical. While that is very positive news, what happens within the next couple days is a big deal. Does he wake up today or tomorrow with symptoms? If he practices tomorrow then we will know.
Ryan Potulny is expected to start his 2nd NHL game tonight.
Robert Esche is expected to get the start in goal tonight.
Brian Savage was nominated by the Philadelphia Chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association as the Flyers representative to receive the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy.
The Masterton Award is given annually to “the NHL player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.”
Savage was recognized by the media for his resolve after dealing with many family related cancer issues in recent years, especially this season with news that his brother was suffering from esophageal cancer.
In his short time in Philadelphia, he has been very active in the community, helping to raise money for various charities, all the while maintaining his own, primary charity, Megan’s Wings, named after his nine-year-old niece who passed away from Leukemia in 2003.
It is the second time Savage has been nominated for the award.
Savage was nominated in 2000 as a member of the Montreal Canadiens after he returned from a broken neck in just four months, missing only 44 games.