Flyers Notes: Suspension is likely for Coburn

NEW YORK -

Braydon Coburn,

one of the Flyers' top defensemen, probably will find out today if he will be suspended for a high-sticking incident involving the Rangers'

Nik Antropov

.

In the Flyers' penalty-filled 4-1 loss to New York yesterday, Coburn received a five-minute penalty late in the second period, along with a match penalty (intent to injury) and ejection.

Because it was a match penalty, it will be reviewed by the NHL. A suspension is possible.

"I would hope not," coach John Stevens said. "I asked him what happened and he thought he hit him more with his glove than anything else."

A few shifts before the incident, Coburn said, he was slashed in the face by Antropov - he had a nasty cut above his right eye - and that triggered his retaliation.

"He started kind of skating toward me and I put my stick up to kind of protect myself," Coburn said. ". . . He kind of came at me and tried to turn at the last minute and I kind of reacted and kind of got him in the neck."

Coburn said he hit Antropov with "a glove-stick combination."

In addition to Coburn, the Flyers lost the services of defenseman Randy Jones, who suffered a "mild" hip or groin injury midway through the third period and is day-to-day, according to general manager Paul Holmgren.

Jeff Carter,

who played through the flu earlier this season, yesterday extended his consecutive-games streak to 200. The Flyers' record for consecutive games: 484 by

Rod Brind'Amour

a decade ago.

- Sam Carchidi