Flyers Notes: Briere in lineup, JVR breaks left foot

Hard-luck left winger James van Riemsdyk suffered a broken bone in his left foot while blocking a first-period shot in the Flyers' 6-3 win over the New York Islanders Thursday. He is expected to miss several weeks.

Van Riemsdyk will visit orthopedic surgeon Steven Raikin on Friday for further evaluation, general manager Paul Holmgren said. The extent of the injury will be known at that time.

Winger Scott Hartnell busted on van Riemsdyk after the game.

"JVR's first blocked shot and a broken foot," Hartnell said with a chuckle.

Then he turned serious.

"It's frustrating, obviously," Hartnell said. "He was finally getting his timing back from his concussion, and I'm sure he'll be out four to six weeks, I'm guessing. . . . But the blessing in disguise is he'll be well-rested and ready to go come playoff time."

Earlier this season, van Riemsdyk missed 15 games because of a concussion.

He has 11 goals this season, and he was goalless with two assists in the six games he played since returning.

Danny Briere, jolted when his head hit the boards after a hit by San Jose's Marc-Edouard Vlasic on Tuesday, had no ill effects and was in the lineup Thursday night.

The 34-year-old center said he didn't know he was fine until he woke up Wednesday with no concussion symptoms.

"My neck was stiff, but that I can deal with," Briere said before Thursday's game.

Briere suffered a concussion on Jan. 21 and missed six games. He is goalless in his last 18 games.

"All players go through a spot or two over the course of a long season where it doesn't go the way they want," coach Peter Laviolette said. "I thought he competed really hard in San Jose. I thought he was one of our better competitors and I think that that's always a good start in the right direction."

Briere had a career-best 34 goals last year. He has 13 this season.

Mark Howe, whose No. 2 will be retired before Tuesday's game against visiting Detroit, and his legendary father, Gordie, attended Thursday's game.

Mark Howe said he was surprised that his number was being retired, since he wasn't on one of the Flyers' Stanley Cup championship teams.