JVR Encouraged After First Full Practice

James van Riemsdyk returned on Monday for his first full practice with the Flyers since suffering an upper body injury in a 4-3 overtime win at the New York Islanders on Nov. 23.

JVR said he got back on the ice in California on Thursday the day before the Flyers 4-3 overtime win against the host Ducks, but Monday at the Skate Zone was his first full practice.

"I feel pretty good," JVR said afterwards.

JVR wouldn't speculate on whether he would play on Wednesday in Buffalo against the Sabres, deferring to general manager Paul Holmgren.

According to Holmgren, JVR is listed as "day to day and possible for Wednesday."

Needless to say, this has been a frustrating time for JVR, who has missed the last four games and has 8 goals and 8 assists in 20 contests.

"I thought I was starting to play well in camp and got tripped up by injury and that slowed me down and I stated to play well again and then another blip in the process with this injury," he said. "It happened and is part of the game and I have got to kind of deal with it and stay mentally strong."

A true test will be when JVR wakes up on Tuesday and sees how he feels.

"That will be key," he said. "It is all part of the process."

Three Flyers were given off from practice on Monday for what the team termed a maintenance day. They were Andrej Meszaros, Danny Briere and Brayden Schenn.

According to Holmgren, all three players will rejoin the team on Tuesday.