Philadelphia Flyers expect netminder Ilya Bryzgalov’s return from foot injury by weekend-NHL News
The Philadelphia Flyers have confirmed that netminder, Ilya Bryzgalov, will not be accompanying them for road game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, but expect him to be back for practice on the next weekend.
Bryzgalov had a chipped fracture in his right foot in the game against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday, March 26, 2012, and has not played since then.
The player was taken on the sidelines after being struck by the puck and did not join the squad for rest of the game. He was seen limping around the locker room during the game.
Later, the team confirmed he fractured a chip in the right foot and was unlikely for next couple of games. However, the management has ruled out he could miss for any longer part of the season, hoping to have him back into the line-up
on Saturday or Sunday.
The team did not say much around exact timeline of the player’s recovery. They also refrained from speculating whether the goaltender’s absence is going to have any major impact on the team’s performance.
If the squad is unable to pull up itself together in the absence of Bryzgalov, it is set to create some difficulties for them given that the race for the playoffs has become very competitive into the closing period of the season.
The netminder’s role in the team stands crucial to their victories’ chances, and with the injury taking more than a week to heal, it will challenge their playoff chances.
Bryzgalov has so far maintained the record of 32-15-7. It includes six shutouts and it remains uncertain how effective his replacement is going to be in protecting the team’s net.
The player himself has not said anything regarding his recovery and comeback and in view of lacking an independent confirmation of the management’s hopes, there are fears that he might take longer than anticipated time to return.
In any case, his comeback in the current regular season seems certain. Several games are left in the regular season and the player is expected to be able to recover and return by then.
Flyers are at the number fifth position in the Eastern Conference but are very closely chased by at least four teams behind them.
It leaves them as well as other teams in a must-win situation to keep their playoff opportunity well intact until the very end of the season.
A rapid change in the positions on the points table can be expected any time. The Buffalo Sabres, for example, having won more than a dozen consecutive games have jumped from 14th to 8th position
in the conference.
So surprises in the points table situation is always there.
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