Flyers evaluating Lecavalier's foot injury
Flyers center Vinny Lecavalier has scored three points in the first three games, but after a 4-3 shootout loss to the visiting Montreal Canadiens on Saturday, he left the Wells Fargo Center with a boot on his left foot.
Flyers center Vinny Lecavalier has scored three points in the first three games, but after a 4-3 shootout loss to the visiting Montreal Canadiens on Saturday, he left the Wells Fargo Center with a boot on his left foot.
The Flyers (0-2-1) did not practice Sunday. General manager Ron Hextall was asked about Lecavalier's status and said through a team spokesman that he was "fine."
The team said it would know more about Lecavalier on Monday.
The Flyers resume action on Tuesday at home against the Anaheim Ducks. Anaheim is 1-1 after a 3-2 win Saturday in Detroit. The Ducks play Monday in Buffalo.
Lecavalier, who played 16 minutes, 10 seconds against Montreal, was hit by a shot taken by teammate Mark Streit. He remained in the game and participated in the shootout, failing to score.
Against Montreal, Lecavalier had an assist after getting a goal and an assist in the home opener, a 6-4 loss Thursday to the New Jersey Devils.
He was hampered by a back injury last season. Lecavalier finished with 20 goals and 17 assists and was minus-16 in 69 games. The quick start this season for the 34-year-old Lecavalier has been encouraging, but the question is whether he will be hampered by this injury.
Another question is whether the Flyers can overcome yet another slow start. Last season, coach Peter Laviolette was fired after the Flyers began with three straight losses. They went 1-7 to start the season.
The Flyers have been plagued by slow finishes in the first three games this season. They lost their opener, 2-1, in Boston when Chris Kelly scored the game-winner with 1 minute, 51 seconds left in the third period.
In the loss to the Devils, the Flyers were outscored by 3-1 in the third period. On Saturday, the Canadiens scored three goals in the third.
The Flyers have been outscored by 7-2 in the third period this season.
Coach Craig Berube addressed the team's third-period woes after Saturday's game. "They just have to have more confidence," Berube said. "They've got to close games."
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