Erik Gustafsson’s hard-luck season continued Wednesday night against the Washington Capitals.
The 24-year-old defenseman blocked a shot from Caps winger Eric Fehr at the 7:00 mark of the second period and didn't return.
“He hit me on the [left] shin pad. It’s OK, just a lower-body injury,” Gustafsson said.
Asked if he can play Saturday against Ottawa, he replied, “We’ll see. It got treated and we’ll see how fast it goes. I’ll be back sooner than later.”
As for pain, he said, “It’s not great, but it could definitely be worse.”
He knows worse. Gustafsson previously blocked a shot while playing with the Adirondack Phantoms on Dec. 15, 2012 and missed six weeks with a fracture in his lower right leg.
He was finally healthy enough to be called up by the Flyers on Feb. 16.
In seven games now, Gustafsson is averaging 18:47 of ice time and has two assists.
“It’s part of the game, stuff happens,” he said.
Head hunting
Danny Briere was very unhappy after the game because there was no call on Alex Ovechkin’s attempted elbow to his head midway into the final period.
It didn’t land entirely.
“Ovechkin, that was a dangerous hit to my head,” Briere said. “I braced to take the hit and he came flying at me.”
The Flyers will want that hit reviewed by the league office, especially in light of Harry Zolnierczyk's possible suspension for his five-minute kneeing penalty to Mathieu Perreault that drew a game misconduct in the final 25 seconds.
Caps coach Adam Oates said he did not think Harry Z’s hit was dirty.
“I think it’s a product of our whole game,” Oates said. “There is 30 seconds left, the game's over and Matty thought he could stick handle through the team.
“It’s not what we do, all of us tonight, and guys are sitting there waiting for you and you get hit.”
Laviolette agreed.
“I think it was a clean, hockey hit,” he said.
Stick throwing 'for fun'
It’s becoming something of a habit. Ilya Bryzgalov threw his stick again during the morning skate on Wednesday.
He did the same thing three times in a two-day period last week. After the Flyers beat the Capitals, Bryzgalov was asked why.
“For fun,” Bryzgalov said simply.
Has there been a little frustration?
“No, it was for fun,” Bryzgalov said. “I just wanted to.”
Do you generally throw the stick for fun?
“Oh, once in a while,” Bryzgalov continued. “Sometimes you want something, right? Sometimes you wake up in the morning and you want something badly.”
We should point out Laviolette was not amused on Wednesday and let Bryz know that when he skated to the bench after the morning skate.
When Bryzgalov finished talking to the media, Scott Hartnell took his place in the locker room. When the subject of the goalie and his stick came up, Hartnell smirked.
“He can throw a stick all he wants if he plays like that,” Hartnell said.
Shelley update
Forward Jody Shelley underwent successful surgery on Wednesday to repair a damaged left hip.
“His surgery went well,” general manager Paul Holmgren said, adding Shelley is out indefinitely.
Shelley is currently on long-term injury, which allowed the Flyers to trade for Simon Gagne on Tuesday.
Loose pucks
Among the scouts at the game, three were from Edmonton, including Craig MacTavish and Kevin Lowe, the Oilers' hockey operations president. ... Mike Knuble was a healthy scratch for the game. ... Nick Grossmann blocked a shot late in the first period but was back on the ice for the end of it. Grossmann recorded seven blocked shots to increase his league-leading season total to 61. ... Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett attended the game. ... The Flyers' power play was 1 for 6 against Toronto. It rebounded nicely against Washington, going 2 for 3. ... Luke Schenn led the Flyers in ice time (24:36), hits (six), and shots (five). ... Claude Giroux extended his points streak to six games with a goal and an assist. He has four goals and eight assists for 12 points during the streak. He recorded his third consecutive multi-point game and has multiple points in five of the Flyers’ last six games overall. ... Gagne’s goal was his 260th career Flyers goal (regular season).