Giroux has concussion

Claude Giroux, who leads the NHL with 39 points, will be sidelined indefinitely with a concussion, the Flyers announced.

Giroux was accidentally kneed to the back of the head by teammate Wayne Simmonds in Saturday's 5-2 win over Tampa Bay.

With Giroux sidelined, 19-year-old rookie Sean Couturier will get a chance to dispaly his offensive skills on the top line, centering Jaromir Jar and Scott Hartnell.

Giroux is the second Flyer with a concussion; Brayden Schenn also has one, and Chris Pronger is experiencing concussion-like symptoms. Pronger will be evaluated by two concussion doctors in Pittsburgh on Wednesday.

Schenn was scheduled to skate after the regulars had a workout Tuesday morning at the Verizon Center. There is not timetable for his return.

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The injury-plagued Flyers' five-game winning streak will be in severe jeopardy when they face Washington on Tuesday night at the Verizon Center.

The Flyers will be without their top offensive player, Giroux (39 points, best in NHL) and their best defender, Pronger.

Washington's Alex Ovechkin has 37 points (22 goals, 15 assist) in career 23 games against the Flyers. The Caps have won two straight.

This is the first meeting between the Eastern Conference rivals in D.C. this season. The Caps won at the WFC, 5-2, on Oct. 20. In that game, Ovechkin scored a pair of goals, and three of the Caps' goals deflected off a Flyer.

Goalie Ilya Bryzgalov will start for the Flyers and face Tomas Vokoun. Bryz left Saturday's win over Tampa Bay with a lower-body injury, but practiced Monday.

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Follow Sam Carchidi on Twitter @BroadStBull.

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