Flyers' enforcer Shelley to undergo eye surgery

It was an innocent enough play during Monday's practice.

Andreas Nodl dished the puck to a defenseman at the point, and promptly tracked the release to the net to try to get his stick on the puck.

But instead of redirecting the puck over teammate Sergei Bobrovsky and into the net, he redirected it into Jody Shelley's grill.

Shelley left the ice frustrated, throwing his helmet, perhaps with the sense that the injury was worse than a normal cut requiring stitches.

He was right. Nodl's innocent tip may have ended Shelley's regular season. And since enforcers lose a lot of their value once the playoffs roll around, Shelley's season may have ended entirely.

Shelley will undergo surgery today to repair a fractured left orbital bone. The surgery will be performed by team dentist Dr. Guy Lanzi.

Coach Peter Laviolette said the Flyers will miss Shelley, one of the true good guys in the locker room who isn't afraid to speak up when things aren't going well.

"You miss not only the way he plays the game, but you certainly miss his character and leadership," Laviolette said. "Both on the ice and in the locker room. He's been an important piece to the team. You take a guy out like that, there's a void there.

"It's a tough break for us."

It's a tough break for Shelley, too, considering the injury came in practice and not during a fight. An orbital bone is an important part of the body for a fighter. Shelley has piled up a 4-4-4 record in fights this season, and has not only protected his teammates but has chosen his times to fight wisely.

The veteran winger signed a 3-year, $3.3 million deal last July 1.

Peter Laviolette said the Flyers accomplished their goal last week with rookie Erik Gustafsson. So, with two more games of NHL experience under his belt, the Flyers sent Gustafsson back to Adirondack of the AHL on Sunday and recalled the more experienced Danny Syvret yesterday.

"I think one of the reasons 'Gus' was here was to get experience," Laviolette said. "He got in some games. It was more about getting up here, getting some minutes, getting used to the players and the systems."

But the reason Syvret was called up wasn't to replace Gustafsson as the extra defenseman. It was as an insurance policy for Kimmo Timonen, whose status was questionable for last night's game due to a sore neck.

Syvret made it to Philadephia in time for last night's game but the Flyers stuck with Nick Boynton in the lineup once Timonen was deemed healthy to play.

Syvret, who has played 55 career games, was returned to Adirondack after last night's game. He is expected to play in Norfolk, Va., tonight with the Phantoms.

Boynton played just 5:39 in Florida last Tuesday and was in the unfortunate position of being on the ice for the Panthers' only two goals in that short span. Last night was his first game back since then.

"I'm happy with the way I played," Boynton said. "You don't want to be out there for any goals but that's the way the game goes sometimes. There's always stuff you can improve on, but that's always going to be the way it is. I feel good."

Chris Pronger took part in yesterday's pregame skate in a big way, passing and shooting pucks for the first time since last Tuesday's hand surgery in Cleveland.

Pronger has missed six of the last 10 games with the hand injury, originally sustained on Feb. 24.

Pronger was not available to the media. He remained in a yellow non-contact jersey, but if it feels strong enough to take slap shots just a week into a 3- to 4-week recovery, you'd have to assume he is progressing ahead of schedule.