ALWAYS BREAKS OUT THE TY ON HOLIDAYS
Winger Ville Leino missed practice Tuesday because of a slight fever and stomach cramps, but he is expected to play Wednesday against visiting San Jose, GM Paul Holmgren said.
Several players have recently had the same symptoms as Leino and have played through it, Holmgren added.
During Tuesday's practice in Voorhees, Nik Zherdev replaced Leino on the line with Danny Briere and Scott Hartnell. Dan Carcillo was on the fourth line with Blair Betts and Jody Shelley.
Carcillo hasn't played since Nov. 15 because of a knee sprain. He is expected to be a healthy scratch again on Wednesday.
Carcillo is eager to return, but he understands the situation.
“The team’s rolling right now and we’re winning, and I just have to cheer them on, have a good attitude and work hard every day _ and wait for your opportunity,” he said. “You want to play… but you usually don’t tinker with a winning lineup.”
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Rookie goalie Sergei Bobrovsky figures to get Wednesday's start for the Flyers (17-7-4)
Former Flyer Antero Niittymaki (2.34 GAA, .910 save percentage) and Antti Niemi (3.33, .890) have been dividing San Jose’s goaltending duties. Playing for Chicago, Niemi beat the Flyers in last season’s Stanley Cup Finals.
San Jose is 13-9-4 and coming off an impressive 5-2 win in Detroit.
There are 500 tickets remaining for the game. Goalie legend Bernie Parent will be honored before the game, and Parent banners will be given out to fans.
Wednesday's game will be televised on Versus.
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The plan is for goalie Michael Leighton to start for the Phantoms on Friday and Saturday. There had been some consideration to playing him Friday and Sunday, but Holmgren said the Flyers want him to play on consecutive days.
When he does return to the Flyers, the team will probably keep three goalies for a while _ and place Ian Laperriere on the LTIR list.
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All-star update: Chris Pronger is second among defensemen in the fans' all-star voting. Bobrovsky is also No. 2 at his position, while Mike Richards (seventh), Claude Giroux (ninth) and Danny Briere (11th) are getting support among forwards.
Kimmo Timonen is fifth among defensemen.
Bobrovsky and Giroux are not on the ballot and are getting support as write-ins.
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Flyers coach Peter Laviolette turned 46 on Tuesday. "Don't remind me," he said.
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