Coburn was struck above the eye and nose by a deflected puck Sunday in Game 2. The cut required more than 50 stitches.

General manager Paul Holmgren said he did not think Coburn would be available. "Right now, it's swollen shut," he said. "There are no fractures. He's doing better. We have no reason to think there's anything wrong with the eye."

Coburn was examined by opthamologist Stephen Goldman at Pennsylvania Hospital, and his eye "checked out OK," Holmgren said.

The general manager said that when Coburn returned to the lineup, he would likely wear either a cage or full facial shield. Holmgren also said the club would talk to him about wearing a shield permanently. "It's not a macho thing anymore to play without a shield," he said.

Coach John Stevens said he expected Ryan Parent to replace Coburn tonight.

"I was hoping he was OK," Parent said of Coburn. "But in the back of your mind, you know you have to be ready."

The 21-year-old played 22 games this season but has not been in the lineup since April 11, the opening night of the playoffs, at Washington.

Nasty hit

"For a few moments there, I was in la-la land, Briere said. "It was an elbow to the back of the head. I didn't have a chance to discuss anything. I'd rather not comment on the referees."

Briere has taken a lot of nasty hits in the playoffs. "It's nothing new," he said. "It's part of the game. I play the same way. Right now, I'm not worried about the physical stuff. That's the last of my worries. I'm just worried about our line getting back to scoring goals and helping our team."

Are Pittsburgh's skill players getting more protection from the officials?

"I've never considered myself a superstar," Briere said. "They might get protected a little bit more, and that is understandable. But sometimes when they do some of the cheap shots that they're doing, it would be fair for everybody to get the same treatment in that regard."

Stevens said a penalty should have been called.

"We all know how the league is cracking down on that," he said. "If anyone knows that, it's us. But we haven't shied away from it, either. We've committed fouls this year and paid for it. We've served the penalties."

The officiating

"I read some comments about John Stevens, about some calls," he said. "We're disappointed about some calls as well, you know. There are times when you're going to get calls and times you're not going to get calls. It's not about complaining. It's about playing the game."

Therrien and Stevens have had their share of run-ins going back to their days coaching in the AHL. After an 8-2 Flyers win in the regular season, Therrien accused Stevens of piling on the goals by using his top power-play unit at the end of the game. Stevens didn't deny it, suggesting it was payback for Pittsburgh tactics he perceived as dirty.

Crosby's non-goal

The goal would have been credited to Crosby, who had scored earlier in the Pens' 4-2 win in Game 2 Sunday night.

"It looked like it was good," Crosby said. "I guess they didn't have the right angle, but I saw a picture that showed the puck over the line. I don't know. From what I heard, they couldn't get the right angle and it was inconclusive."

Replay officials couldn't rule it a goal because goalie Marty Biron's glove partially obscured the puck. Crosby said he was told a flash obscured the puck in one of the frames.

"I'm glad we won because that would have been a hard one to take if we'd lost, Crosby said.
- Tim Panaccio and Ray Parrillo