Bryz practices, but Bob expected to get weekend nods

Ilya Bryzgalov looked sharp during the Flyers' short practice at the Wells Fargo Center on Friday, but general manager Paul Holmgren said the goalie probably won't play in either game this weekend.

The Flyers host Ottawa on Saturday afternoon, then play a key matinee in Pittsburgh on Sunday.

Bryzgalov, 10-2-1 with a 1.43 goals-against average and .947 save percentage in March, is officially listed as doubtful for both games, and Sergei Bobrovsky is expected to make both starts.

Bobrovsky is 1-0 with a 2.01 goals-against average against the Senators this season, and 1-1 with a 3.61 GAA against the Penguins.

Bryzgalov missed the Flyers' 7-1 win in Toronto on Thursday because of a chip fracture in his right foot. Bobrovsky made 16 saves in the easy victory.

"There's some progress," said Bryzgalov, who was injured in warmups Monday when Jakub Voracek's shot hit his foot before the game against Tampa Bay. Bryzgalov played in that 5-3 loss to the Lightning.

The 31-year-old goalie said the pain in his foot had lessened and that he "would love to play" as soon as possible.

Bryzgalov said he was "lucky it was not that bad because I'm tough and Russian."

"We'll do what's best for the player and the organization," said coach Peter Laviolette, whose team is trying to catch fourth-seeded Pittsburgh in the Eastern Conference. "We're not going to put a goaltender in a situation where he goes out there and risks injury."

That was coachspeak for saying Bobrovsky would get the start against the Senators, who are fighting for their playoff lives in the East.

Ottawa, Washington and Buffalo are battling for the final two playoff spots.

Holmgren had said Bryzgalov could not risk further injury, and that it was a matter of how much pain he could withstand to play.

Laviolette said it was a "positive sign" that Bryzgalov was able to practice.

Asked how it went, Bryzgalov was evasive.

"Good sunny weather," he said.

Does he feel healthy?

"I can't give you this information, because I'm not speaking about injuries," he said. "Those questions are for Paul Holmgren."

Bryzgalov said the injury would not keep him out for long.

"I can't give you an exact date," he said, before adding "soon."

That could be Tuesday against the visiting New York Rangers.

JVR update. Left winger James van Riemsdykcq, sidelined with a broken bone in his right foot, said he will be examined by a doctor in about a week and that he was hopeful he would have his boot removed and be able to resume skating.

It appears that, in a best-case scenario, van Riemsdyk would be ready to return midway through the opening playoff round.

Pronger stand-in. Defenseman Chris Pronger, out since November with a concussion, had an out-of-town commitment and was not able to be a part of the team's photo on Friday, a Flyers spokesman said. John Page, vice president of Comcast-Spectacor, the Flyers' parent company, wore Pronger's uniform in the photo.

Pronger's face will be superimposed on his Page's body for the team photo that will hang in the locker room.

Page is a former USCSouthern Cal football player.

Breakaways. Craig Anderson, who has a 2.88 GAA and .913 save percentage, will start for Ottawa . . . . Holmgren said Kimmo Timonen, who has been nursing a sore back and missed Thursday's game, will probably return to the lineup Saturday. . . . Danny Briere has two goals and five assists in his last three games.

The Flyers have 11 wins in March for the fifth time in their history. In three of the four times they have done it, they reached the Stanley Cup Finals . . . . The Flyers have won two of three games over the Senators, outscoring them, 14-10 . . . .The Flyers have allowed 17 shots or fewer in three of their last five games.

Contact Sam Carchidi at scarchidi@phillynews.com or on Twitter @BroadStBull.