Flyers Notes: Briere shelved with hand bruise

NEW YORK - As it turns out, yet another big win on Wednesday was followed by an accompanying injury for the Flyers, who have had plenty of both this season.

Late in the third period of Wednesday's 4-1 at Dallas, center Danny Briere suffered a bruised right hand. He didn't play in Friday's game at Madison Square Garden against the New York Rangers, and Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren said Briere is listed as day to day.

So once again, the Flyers watched another key component take a seat on the bench. Entering Friday, the Flyers had lost 116 man-games due to injury or illness.

Friday's game was the third that Briere has missed this season. He didn't play in consecutive games, Oct. 29 against Carolina and Nov. 2 against Buffalo, due to an upper-body injury. The Flyers won both games.

Matt Read, whose value is heightened by his ability to play multiple positions, replaced Briere as the second-line center between James van Riemsdyk and Wayne Simmonds.

"He plays every position for us," Flyers coach Peter Laviolette said about Read before Friday's game. "He plays defense, on the power play, plays left wing, right wing, center. . . . Now, with Danny out, he jumps back in the middle, and it should be seamless for him."

Holmgren updated the status of two other injured players, Brayden Schenn (concussion) and Sean Couturier (head injury). Both are listed as day to day.

"Brayden skated and did his off-ice conditioning [Friday] and has made good strides," Holmgren said. "Sean skated [Friday] and did his off-ice conditioning."

On Wednesday, Flyers defenseman Andreas Lilja returned after missing the previous 10 games with a high-ankle sprain. Lilja played 15 minutes, 9 seconds in the win over the Stars.

"I felt good getting back there," Lilja said following Friday's morning skate at Madison Square Garden.

His return coincided with that of Claude Giroux, who had a goal and three assists after missing the previous four games with a concussion.

"He got overshadowed by Claude coming back and throwing four points," Laviolette said of Lilja. "He was really aggressive, really strong and solid, and I was impressed with the way he came back."

Even though Friday's game with the Rangers was the third of a five-game road trip, the Flyers get to return home and will have Saturday and Sunday off for the holiday.

The team will resume practice on Monday in preparation for Tuesday's game at the Tampa Bay Lightning.

- Marc Narducci