Thoughts on Giroux, Flyers; Bob starting

DALLAS _ Nobody asked me, but...

If it's me, I err on the side of caution and do not play Claude Giroux until after Christmas.

But it appears the gifted Flyers center will play Wednesday night in Dallas. Nothing official, but there were lots of hints yesterday that Giroux will center Jaromir Jagr and Scott Hartnell on Wednesday night.

Giroux was miked by HBO at around 6 p.m., so he's not sitting in the pressbox.

Giroux missed the last four games after suffering a concussion on Dec. 10.

Why rush his return? Someone who has suffered a concussion is more susceptible to a second one. Returning 11 days after a concussion seems a bit premature, no?

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Backup goalie Sergei Bobrovsky will start against the Stars. Coach Peter Laviolette said Bob's strong performance in Dallas last year played a role in his decision.

This season, Bob is 6-2-1 with a 2.72 GAA and .908 save percentage.

The Flyers (20-8-4) will try to snap a two-game losing streak Wednesday against the surprising Stars (19-12-1). The Flyers are averaging a league-best 3.5 goals per game _ almost one goal more than Dallas (2.59).

The Flyers, who have not lost three straight all season, have won their last four meetings against Dallas.

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In their last four games, all without Giroux, the Flyers' power play was 1 for 17 (5.9 percent). The Flyers went 2-1-1 in those games.

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Jaromir Jagr would have been in Monday's shootout rotation if it went longer, coach Peter Laviolette said.

The Flyers lost to Colorado, 3-2.

Danny Briere and James van Riemsdyk scored in the shootout, and Matt Read fired a shot off the crossbar.

"I haven't taken a penalty shot in the last six years," Jagr said.

Did he want to shoot Monday?

"I've never been a player who says, 'Bleep, coach, bleeping put me on ice, I'm bleeping going to score.' That's not me," he said with a laugh.

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Jagr and Jakub Voracek paid homage Monday to Vaclav Havel, the former Czech Republic president who died a few days ago. Jagr and Voracek wore his initials on their helmets. "He was a guy who fought his life against the Communists," said Jagr, who knew Havel personally and twice went to the White House with him.

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A goal with a little over 18 seconds left Monday in Colorado was changed from Wayne Simmonds' to Danny Briere's. It took a while, but officials got it right.

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The second installment of 24/7 will be shown Wednesday night on HBO at 10. The series follows the Flyers and Rangers en route to the Winter Classic. Philosopher/goalie Ilya Bryzgalov was easily the star of the first episode.

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Follow Sam Carchidi on Twitter @BroadStBull.

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