Flyers Notes: Taking one for the team

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Shot-blocking can be dangerous to your health.

Just ask the three Flyers -

Kimmo Timonen

,

Scott Hartnell

and

Matt Carle

- who were injured while stopping the puck during Friday's 5-1 loss in Chicago.

Timonen, the team's best defenseman, suffered the most serious of the injuries - a chip fracture of his right ankle. After the game, general manager

Paul Holmgren

said Timonen would miss at least a week. Before last night's game in Columbus, Holmgren hinted that there's a chance Timonen could play in Anaheim on Friday or Los Angeles the following night.

"Depending on how painful it is for him, there's a chance he could play somewhere on this trip," Holmgren said.

Carle, another defenseman, suffered a bruised bone in his left ankle and was scratched last night.

Left winger Hartnell broke the big toe on his right foot Friday, but was given permission to play last night. He skated gingerly early in the game.

The Flyers were fortunate they had two extra defensemen on the trip. Two players who were scratched Friday -

Andrew Alberts

and

Lasse Kukkonen

- were in last night's lineup.

Last night, the Flyers faced former teammate

R.J. Umberger

for the first time since he was traded to Columbus in a deal that included a No. 1 pick that turned out to be

Luca Sbisa

. Umberger had 10 goals in last year's Stanley Cup playoffs, including nine in five games against Montreal.

Because of Umberger's breakthrough playoff series, his salary demands climbed, causing the cap-strapped Flyers to deal the restricted free agent. He signed a four-year, $15 million contract.

Moved from wing to center this year, Umberger entered last night with 10 goals and eight assists with Columbus. The 26-year-old said the adjustment to a new team wasn't easy.

"It was the first time I've been traded, and to let go of the old team and accept the new role, it takes longer than I thought," he said. "But now I'm happy playing the middle and finally starting to feel comfortable."

Holmgren said there's a chance center

Danny Briere

(groin injury) will play late in the trip - after the GM clears lots of cap space, probably with a deal. . . . Defenseman

Ryan Parent

will play for the Phantoms on Tuesday at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton as he continues his comeback from shoulder surgery. . . . With Timonen out, center

Jeff Carter

assumed his alternate captain's role last night.

- Sam Carchidi