Flyers Notes: Flyers' Bryzgalov hit by flu

Flyers goalie Ilya Bryzgalov, who has allowed one goal or less in five of his last seven starts, missed Thursday's game against Toronto because of the flu.

General manager Paul Holmgren wasn't sure whether Bryzgalov would be ready for Saturday afternoon's key matchup with the visiting New York Rangers, who are 4-0 against the Flyers this season.

Sergei Bobrovsky started Thursday against the Maple Leafs. He had a 4-2 win over Toronto earlier this season.

Jason Bacashihua was recalled from the Phantoms to be Bobrovsky's backup. At Adiriondack, Bacashihua was 7-6-1 with a 2.98 goals-against average and .902 save percentage.

Bacashihua, 29, appeared in 38 NHL games with St. Louis from 2005 to 2007, going 7-17-4 with a 3.19 GAA. The Flyers signed him as a free agent last summer.

The Flyers couldn't recall Adirondack's Michael Leighton because they would have needed 24 hours for him to clear reentry waivers.

As for Bobrovsky, the Flyers are confident with him.

"To be honest, it doesn't really matter who starts for us," center Danny Briere said. "Bob has played tremendous hockey throughout the year. I'm never worried about him. He had a great season last year - obviously not the way he wanted to end it - but he was good for us for the most part. He seems to get better and quicker. He's definitely a goaltender who in the future is going to be one of the tops in the league. I'm guaranteed of that."

At the morning skate, Justin Musciano replaced Bryzgalov. Musciano, 27, of Delaware County, was playing in a game with Comcast-Spectacor employees when he was asked to stay for the Flyers.

Toronto forward Mikhail Grabovski feels bad about hitting Chris Pronger in the right eye with his stick on Oct. 24, but said "100 percent I didn't do it on purpose."

Grabovski said he sent a message through Toronto GM Brian Burke to Pronger, telling him he was sorry.

Pronger will miss the rest of the season with a concussion, and his career is in jeopardy.

Defenseman Luke Schenn said he loves playing in Toronto, but he hopes to one day be on a team with brother Brayden, who plays for the Flyers.

Luke Schenn, who took a plus-9 rating into the game, has been on the Flyers' radar. The trade deadline is Feb. 27.

James van Riemsdyk, who has been sidelined the last 12 games because of a concussion, did not participate in the morning skate.

"Does that mean it's a setback? I don't know," said Holmgren, adding that the winger is "out indefinitely."