Flyers Notes: Chris Pronger and Blair Betts could be back in lineup against Toronto

Defenseman Chris Pronger and center Blair Betts practiced with the Flyers on Monday in Voorhees and still had some hand problems, but general manager Paul Holmgren said he thinks both players will be able to play Thursday against visiting Toronto.

Pronger, who was hurt in Thursday's win over the Islanders, said his right hand was feeling better each day but that he was still having difficulty grasping his stick.

Betts, the team's ace penalty killer, said that his lacerated left ring finger was still sore but that he hopes to play Thursday. He has missed the last four games.

"I'm still optimistic," he said. "We still have two more days and, hopefully, we'll see some improvement. We'll make a decision Thursday morning."

Defenseman Nick Boynton, claimed off waivers from Chicago on Saturday, practiced with the team for the first time. Boynton would play Thursday if Pronger is sidelined.

He gives the Flyers an experienced seventh defenseman.

"He proved that last year in Chicago," Pronger said. "He's played on a number of teams that have been in the playoffs and been through a lot of battles. As you all know, in the playoffs, there are a lot of injuries and a lot of things happen, and he gives us another piece."

Boynton, 32, who once played for coach Peter Laviolette in the minors, played for the Blackhawks in the Stanley Cup-clinching Game 6 win over the Flyers last season.

"My main goal is to hopefully get another ring," Boynton said, adding that the "best game in my life" was winning the Cup in the Wells Fargo Center last year, "and, hopefully, we can do it again, the other way."

The Flyers have the same record - 20-8-3 - at home and on the road. Entering Monday, they had the league's fourth-highest points total, both at home (43) and on the road (43).

Oskars Bartulis will have shoulder surgery Friday, Holmgren said. . . . Claude Giroux has 22 points in his last 19 games. . . . Among players who are faceoff regulars, Jeff Carter leads the Flyers at 54.7 percent, followed by Giroux at 50.5 percent.

- Sam Carchidi