Giroux wants to play Tuesday
Five weeks after hand surgery, Flyers captain Claude Giroux said he'd love to play in Tuesday's preseason game against the Devils.
LAKE PLACID, N.Y. -- Claude Giroux is one doctor's signature away from getting back to game action.
Five weeks after tearing four tendons in his right hand in a golfing accident, Giroux was back in battling drills for the first time on Thursday at Herb Brooks Arena.
Giroux, 25, has been skating, shooting, stickhandling and passing for almost a week. He said he has experienced no pain or sensitivity with the surgically-repaired hand. It is possible he is ready to play as soon as Tuesday's tune-up against New Jersey.
"I didn't win a lot of battles out there, but I did what I can do," Giroux said. "It's pretty good. If there was pain, I'd be more cautious making sure everything is fine."
Laviolette liked what he saw out of Giroux on Thursday. The Flyers are 1-2-1 in four preseason games without him.
"He looks good on the ice," Laviolette said. "He's skating well, he's competing well, he's shooting well. There doesn't seem to be anything holding him back at this point."
Giroux will visit the doctor after the Flyers return home from Lake Placid on Sunday.
"The next step will be to get cleared 100 percent to be able to hit and play (full speed) like that," Giroux said. "If my hand lets me be 100 percent, I'd love to play."
OVER / UNDERS: Online gambling site Bovada.lv published their annual over/under point totals for specific players on Thursday. Here were the Flyers:
Jake Voracek - Over/Under 70.5 points
Vincent Lecavalier - Over/Under 55.5 points
Wayne Simmonds - Over/Under 51.5 points
Giroux was not listed because Bovada said they were unsure if he wold be ready for the first regular season game. Giroux was installed as the 7th favorite to win the Hart Trophy - the only Flyer listed with odds for a major award.
For reference, Pro-rated from last year's lockout-shortened season and playing all 82 games, here's what each would have posted:
Voracek: 79 points
Lecavalier: 67 points (in Tampa Bay)
Simmonds: 58 points
Giroux: 80 points
Giroux and Voracek played all 48 games. Simmonds missed three games. Lecavalier missed nine games.
Are you taking the over or under?
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