Flyers Notes: New defenseman Manning contributes right away for Flyers

The Flyers' defense is running out of healthy bodies.

They recalled Brandon Manning and Matt Konan from Adirondack of the AHL on Tuesday to replace injured defensemen Kent Huskins (concussion) and Bruno Gervais (torn stomach muscle), who are both out for the season.

Manning picked up an assist - his first NHL point - on Brayden Schenn's first-period goal Tuesday against the New York Rangers.

"It's exciting. This is where you want to be," Manning, 22, said before the game. ". . . The Flyers are trying to make a push here, so hopefully I can do what I can and bring my game and hope that helps."

Manning played four games with the Flyers last season, and he is one of four defensemen with the club who have spent time with the Phantoms this season. With Adirondack, Manning, recovering from a hip injury early in the season, had 21 points in 65 games (with a minus-28 rating) and played in the AHL All-Star Game.

Konan, 21, a first-year pro, had six points and was minus-8 in 42 games with the Phantoms.

The list of Flyers defensemen sidelined for the rest of the year includes Braydon Coburn, Andrej Meszaros, and Nick Grossmann. In addition, Chris Pronger and Marc-Andre Bourdon have not played this season because of concussion-related injuries.

Kimmo Timonen and Luke Schenn are the only regular Flyers defensemen who are still playing. They were joined on defense Tuesday by Kurtis Foster, who had played just 19 NHL games this year, along with Erik Gustafsson, Oliver Lauridsen, and Manning, each of whom spent most of the season with the Phantoms.

Manning was paired with Foster; Konan was a healthy scratch.

Because of the bombing Monday in Boston, NHL teams have been told to be on heightened alert, according to Peter Luukko, president of the Flyers' parent company, Comcast-Spectacor.

Luuko said that there was added security at Tuesday's game at the Wells Fargo Center, and that it will continue for the rest of the season. The Rangers also added security at a road game for the first time this season.

"We've worked closely with Homeland Security and local officials since 9/11," Luukko said before the game, "and we're paying extra attention because of the events in Boston."

Before the game, Lauren Hart sang "God Bless America," accompanied by an emotional video tribute to the first responders in Boston.