No explanation for Pronger's absence from Game 2

AFTER MORE than 17 years in the NHL, Chris Pronger has become a creature of habit and game-day ritual.

That's why it was a surprise when Pronger, who missed the first five games of the Stanley Cup playoffs with a hand injury, skipped the Flyers' morning skate yesterday before Game 2 against the Bruins.

Shortly after the pregame skate, Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren released a statement saying that Jeff Carter (knee), Michael Leighton (back) and Andreas Nodl (eye) would remain day-to-day with their injuries.

"Pronger is fine," the last sentence of Holmgren's release said.

That's why it was an even bigger shock, with the Wells Fargo Center abuzz, when the Flyers declared that Pronger would sit out Game 2 with an undisclosed injury.

Some reports originally had Pronger suffering from a minor head cold. Others suggested that Pronger suffered a hamstring injury in Game 1 against Boston on Saturday, when he was a minus-3 during 19 minutes' worth of work. Still others said Pronger suffered a back injury.

Did anyone really think Pronger, even at half speed, would miss skating in his 174th career playoff game because of cold symptoms?

Still, the Flyers have been tight-lipped about Pronger's status, as they have been with all of their injuries in the playoffs, using a blanket blackout policy.

It could be all or none of the above, but the Flyers aren't saying. None of those reports, however, listed a possible aggravation of the right hand injury that caused Pronger to miss 22 consecutive games from the end of the regular season through Game 6 of the first round.

Holmgren declined to speak to the media during last night's game.

In Pronger's absence, defenseman Danny Syvret rejoined the lineup after playing in all seven games against Buffalo in the first round.

After watching Zac Rinaldo skated a grand total of 5 minutes, 46 seconds over the course of two playoff games, Flyers forward Jody Shelley was finally reinserted into the lineup last night for the first time since March 17.

Shelley innocently fractured his left orbital bone in practice on March 18, which required surgery. He was officially cleared to play on April 8, though that same injury might have been what kept him out of the lineup for the Flyers' first eight playoff games.

Coach Peter Laviolette said last week that it was not an "either-or" decision to use Shelley or Rinaldo. Last night, Ben Holmstrom also took part in the Flyers' skate in pregame warmups.

Shelley, who collected two goals and two assists in 58 games this season, signed a 3-year, $3.3 million deal at the start of free agency last summer. He wore a half-shield visor, which covers his eyes, last night in his return.

With the Wells Fargo Center already quiet after Boston had tied the score at 2-2 in the first period last night, a pin drop could be heard when Bruins defenseman Adam McQuaid plowed into the endboards headfirst.

All was quiet, as McQuaid lay on the ice, until the replay of McQuaid's hit-and-miss was shown on the overhead scoreboard.

Fans applauded as McQuaid was helped off the ice under his own power, but there were a few snickers in the crowd as it was shown that he was gunning for Mike Richards near the net when the Flyers' captain stepped out of the way at the last second. McQuaid could not stop himself, falling awkwardly into the boards. He did not return for the Bruins. The Versus telecast said McQuaid was responsive but was transported to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, and his status for Game 3 will be re-evaluated later today. *

For more news and analysis, read

Frank Seravalli's blog, Frequent Flyers, at

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