Broad Street Hockey is noting that from the reports on the Flyers morning skate, it looks like defenseman Chris Pronger will not be ready to go for the first game of the team’s playoff series tonight against the Buffalo Sabres. Danny Svret will continue starting in place of Pronger.
Pronger, who has sidelined for five weeks with an injury to his hand, is considered “day to day” according to Flyers GM Paul Holmgren. Earlier this week, Pronger expressed confidence that he would be ready to go for the series.
In other lineup notes, Nikolay Zherdev will be scratched in favor Dan Carcillo. Andres Nodl will take Zherdev’s place on the Carter/Giroux line. BSH lamented Zherdev’s exclusion.
We often poke fun at the whole “the Flyers love grit” thing, and while I think Zherdev should be in the lineup with the way he’s played lately, I don’t hate the addition of Carcillo to the lineup. It just sucks it comes at Zherdev’s expense, because he’s certainly earned a spot on this team lately. For all his faults, it’s hard not to feel bad for the guy right now.