Bryzgalov doubtful, Timonen probable

After much speculation, it appears that the Flyers are going to give Ilya Bryzgalov and the chip fracture in his right foot a chance to heal.

According to Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren, Bryzgalov is officially listed as "doubtful" for both games of the team's back-to-back set with Ottawa and Pittsburgh.

Bryzgalov practiced on Friday with the Flyers for the first time since sustaining the fracture in warm-ups against Tampa Bay on Monday. He moved well in net and looked sharp and agile, without much hesitation or favoritism.

"I can't give you an exact date (for my return)," Bryzgalov said. "I can't predict the future. I don't have a crystal ball."

Bryzgalov and coach Peter Laviolette did have a lengthy on-ice chat during practice, presumably about the game plan as to when to get him back on the ice for a start.

"We'll do what's best for the player and the organization," Laviolette said.

TIMONEN BACK? Holmgren also upgraded defenseman Kimmo Timonen's status to "probable" for this weekend's set. Timonen, 36, did not travel with the Flyers to Toronto to rest his chronic lower-back problems.

With Timonen back and Andreas Lilja getting healthier, the Flyers will need to decide whether to send back Erik Gustafsson or Marc-Andre Bourdon. Theoretically, both players are allowed to stay, since there is no more 23-man roster after the trade deadline – but it's not likely for the team to carry 8 healthy defensemen on the roster while the Phantoms are making a late playoff push in Adirondack.

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