Briere hoping to be back in lineup on Tuesday

If Danny Briere wakes up Tuesday morning and has no ill effects from the contact he absorbed in Monday's practice, there's a good chance the Flyers' veteran center will return to the lineup.

The Flyers will host the New York Islanders on Tuesday night and try to avoid their first three-game losing streak of the season.

Briere, 34, has missed the last six games because of a concussion, and he said it's "a possibility" he will face the Islanders.

"The last couple of days have been good, skating-wise," Briere said after joining 12 teammates at Monday's optional practice in Voorhees. "Everything checks out. I've been working out and pushing myself a little more every day."

Briere, who has 13 goals and 17 assists in 43 games, will be examined by a doctor and trainer Jim McCrossin before a decision is made on whether he will play Tuesday.

"He's able to go a full practice and engage in some drills," coach Peter Laviolette said. "That's a positive."

This is the first time in his 14-year career Briere has missed games because of a concussion. When he returns, he said, he won't change his style of play.

"One thing I can tell you, I'm not worried about coming back. I'm not going to change my game," he said, adding that he plans "to go into tough areas to score goals."

Briere, who cleared a baseline test last week, said if he is symptom-free when he wakes up Tuesday, it will be a "sign" whether he's playing.

"I've tried to push it a little more the last five, six days to see what I can take," he said. "It's been getting better and better."

Briere, one of six Flyers to suffer a concussion this season, said there is a fine line in determining when to return.

"I think the guys are a lot more aware of how dangerous concussions can be," he said, "and how dangerous it can be to come back too early. That's a big part of it - trying to be honest with yourself and with the doctors. Let them know exactly how you feel, and do not put yourself in a bad position."

Unlike teammate Chris Pronger, Briere said he is fortunate because he has not been bothered by lights or sounds. "I haven't had many symptoms," he said. "The only thing I've had were headaches . . . and I felt like I was in a bubble for the first week. You feel like you're in your own world, walking around. It's hard to explain."

The 5-foot-10, 179-pound Briere was injured in a 4-1 win in New Jersey on Jan. 21; he was sent to the ice three times by 6-1, 225-pound defenseman Anton Volchenkov during the game. He also was punched in the face by Patrik Elias and took a high stick to the face from Brad Mills.

Briere blamed himself for not avoiding the hits.

As for Monday's optional practice, it included James van Riemsdyk, Brayden Schenn, Marc-Andre Bourdon, Zac Rinaldo, Erik Gustafsson, Andreas Lilja, Tom Sestito, Jody Shelley, Matt Read, Sean Couturier, Harry Zolnierczyk, and Sergei Bobrovsky.

Van Riemsdyk, also sidelined by a concussion, continued to decline requests to talk to the media. Asked for an update on van Riemsdyk's condition, general manager Paul Holmgren gave a terse response through the public-relations department, saying he "remains the same."