Carter to have surgery

Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren announced today that center Jeff Carter, the Flyers' leading scorer, will have foot surgery tomorrow at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.

Dr. Steve Raikin will insert a screw into Carter's left foot to "aide the healing process" for the non-displaced fracture of the navicular bone.

The navicular bone is a small, non-weight bearing bone at the back of the arch.

Holmgren said Carter's time frame for return has not changed and remains at 3-to-4 weeks, though some had hoped Carter would be able to return as early as two weeks if he could handle the pain.

Carter fractured the bone when blocking a shot from Atlanta's Clarke MacArthur in the first period of Sunday night's loss to the Thrashers.

Carter's 33 goals and 60 points lead the Flyers, who sit in 7th place in the Eastern Conference when they face Minnesota tonight at the Wachovia Center. Both teams will be skating on even ice tonight, as Minnesota will also be without their leading scorer, Mikko Koivu, because of an arm injury. Tonight is the first game Koivu won't be in the lineup for the Wild this season.

Peter Laviolette also mixed up his lines for tonight's matchup at the team's morning skate. Here is the expected lineup:

Hartnell-Richards-Carcillo
Gagne-Briere-Leino
van Riemsdyk-Giroux-Powe
Laperriere-Betts-Asham

Riley Cote will remain a healthy scratch.

To read how Laviolette broke down the Flyers' schedule into segments, click here.