Ross joins Flyers' list of walking wounded

With Simon Gagne, Darroll Powe and Blair Betts out of the lineup due to injuries, Jared Ross was supposed to be the healthy replacement.

Ross, who was scoreless in three games, fulfilled that role until he left yesterday's game with concussion-like symptoms after being smashed into the boards from behind by Buffalo's Patrick Kaleta.

Kaleta, who refused - as he usually does - to drop the gloves to defend himself, was issued a major boarding penalty and a game misconduct. The hit will be automatically reviewed for suspension by NHL dean of discipline Colin Campbell.

Ross left the ice on his own power but was woozy skating to the bench. He was held out the rest of the game as a precaution.

"He actually feels a little better," Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren said after the game. "He is going to travel with the team [today to Atlanta], and we'll see how it is in the morning."

As a precaution, the Flyers called up forward Jon Kalinski from the Phantoms to join them in Atlanta for tonight's game against the Thrashers. Danny Briere also will return after serving his two-game suspension.

Holmgren also said that he expects Ian Laperriere to play tonight. Laperriere took a Jason Pominville slap shot to the face and received so many stitches to his lip that Flyers oral surgeon Dr. Guy Lanzi lost count.

Lanzi guessed the total is somewhere "in between 50 and 100" stitches.

Holmgren said that Laperriere, who returned to the game a little more than a period later with a full shield and four less teeth, was actually bothered to be off the ice for so long.

Coach John Stevens said that Brian Boucher will get the start in goal tonight. Boucher picked up the Flyers' only four points on their five-game road trip that ended on Wednesday on Long Island . . . Defenseman Danny Syvret cleared waivers yesterday and skated with the AHL Phantoms last night . . . Twenty-five inner-city youngsters from the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation will compete at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., this morning as part of the "Hockey is for Everyone" campaign . . . The Flyers swept the season series with Atlanta last year, and have won 14 straight against the Thrashers, dating to 2005-06. It is the longest active winning streak against one opponent in the NHL. Their last loss was on Nov. 18, 2005 (6-5 OT).