Flyers Notes: Flyers' O'Donnell to be out up to two weeks

Sean O'Donnell's injury is more serious than he expected, and the veteran Flyers defenseman will miss 10 to 14 days with a sprained left knee, general manager Paul Holmgren said after Monday's practice in Voorhees.

O'Donnell, 39, a steady presence on the blue line all season, was injured early in Sunday's 4-2 win over the New York Rangers. After the game, he said he thought he could play Tuesday against visiting Phoenix.

Instead, Oskars Bartulis, who hasn't played since Jan. 11, will be in the lineup.

"I know what to expect and what I have to do to play better," Bartulis said.

Blair Betts (lacerated finger) will sit out his second straight game Tuesday, and Darroll Powe will be the fourth-line center. There's a chance Betts could return Thursday against the Islanders, Holmgren said.

Brian Boucher practiced on Monday, but the goalie said he still had stiffness in his right arm and neck. He was injured Sunday when he collided with teammate Kimmo Timonen early in the third period. Boucher remained in the game.

Boucher said he thought he could play Tuesday, but the Flyers figure to start Sergei Bobrovsky.

Winger Nik Zherdev, who has scored 15 goals in limited duty but has been in coach Peter Laviolette's doghouse because of his sometimes lazy play, has sat the last five games, fueling trade speculation.

But Holmgren refuted a Russian report that five NHL teams had inquired about Zherdev. "I must have missed those calls," Holmgren said, adding it would be difficult to part with the skilled winger because he was "insurance" in case of an injury.

Holmgren acknowledged that Zherdev "has struggled a little bit being in and out of the lineup, and perhaps his work ethic has dropped in practice. He needs to tough it out here and work harder if he wants to get back in the lineup."

The trade deadline is Monday.

Mike Richards and Ville Leino were given the day off. Richards is coming off the flu, and Leino is recovering from a groin/hip injury. . . . Holmgren reiterated that there is not enough room to sign Leino until after the season. He does not expect any problems resigning the winger. . . . There are 250 tickets available for Tuesday. . . . The 34th annual Flyers Wives Fight for Lives Carnival will be held Sunday at the Wells Fargo Center from 1:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. The Flyers' entire team and alumni members will take part, and fans are given the chance to have photos taken and get autographs. There will be numerous carnival games.

Ticket information: 1-800-298-4200. Tickets will also be sold at the door.