Briere suffers concussion; Jagr injured again

NEWARK, N.J. - For the Flyers, the all-star break cannot come fast enough.

Center Danny Briere suffered a concussion in the Flyers' 4-1 win in New Jersey Saturday and is out indefinitely.

The 5-foot-10, 179-pound Briere was sent to the ice three times by 6-1, 225-pound defenseman Anton Volchenkov during the game.

Late in the first period, the diminutive Briere was flattened by Volchenkov. With 12 minutes, 44 seconds left in the game, Volchenkov cross-checked Briere and sent him falling face-first onto the ice. Briere also was punched in the face by Patrik Elias late in the third period, and he took a high-stick to the face from Brad Mills shortly thereafter, with 1 minute, 46 seconds remaining.

With 1:10 left, Briere absorbed a hard check from Volchenkov, who lowered his shoulder into the center and smashed him into the boards.

After the game, Briere looked dazed, and he said he did not know which hit caused the concussion.

Briere is the sixth Flyer to have a concussion this season, following Chris Pronger, Brayden Schenn, Matt Read, Claude Giroux and James van Riemsdyk.

Veteran right winger Jaromir Jagr re-aggravated a groin injury in the first period and did not return to the game. He is expected to miss the final two games before the all-star break.

Jagr, who will turn 40 next month, played just four shifts that totaled 3:12. He has missed six games this season because of two different groin issues.

In addition, Zac Rinaldo suffered an upper-body injury in the game and is day to day.

After the game, the Flyers recalled Tom Sestito and Ben Holmstrom from the AHL Phantoms.

Brayden Schenn (four points in 17 games) replaced Jagr on a line with Claude Giroux and Scott Hartnell.

In 40 games, Jagr has 34 points, including 12 goals. He said earlier this week he would like to play with the Flyers next season.

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Follow Sam Carchidi on Twitter @BroadStBull.