Leighton suffers high ankle sprain.

Leighton left the game just under three minutes after the Erat goal with a high ankle sprain. He was replaced by Brian Boucher at 9:45.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=314347

Anyone else hoping we get the third seed and Philly hangs onto 6th?

Funny, I was looking at the standings and the scoreboard last night, and thought of posting "Does anyone else think Philly is done?"

I think they are done, unless they can get a goalie. Is Gerber back yet? I read that the initial fear that he had fractured vertebrae was not confirmed on further examination, and he only had a spinal contusion. Recovery should be weeks, and this was back in December, so I can only assume he's fine by now.

I think the Flyers will stay in the playoffs but whoever faces them gets a free pass directly to the second round.

Philly was done way before Leighton went down. Chronically badly managed team. Look at us, we spend gobs of money and picks on Pronger, yay! Goalie? What goalie? We don't need no mother diddling goalie.

I know people like to rag on Leighton but he was putting up decent numbers and helped Philly get themselves back in the playoff hunt. He's most likely not the answer come playoff time but I'd hardly say that Philly was done before this injury. Unless you meant done as in there's no way they get out of the first round.

Cap'n Clutch wrote:I know people like to rag on Leighton but he was putting up decent numbers and helped Philly get themselves back in the playoff hunt. He's most likely not the answer come playoff time but I'd hardly say that Philly was done before this injury. Unless you meant done as in there's no way they get out of the first round.

I'm a firm believer in Leighton and Boucher - as backups. Boucher is a great goalie, but he doesn't have the mental makeup to be a number one, neither does Leighton. Leighton got the Flyers to a playoff position by posting great numbers, but at the same time the Flyers were playing amazing hockey - like the Sens were for those 11 games. Come playoff time, the entire dynamics change and your goalie has to bail you out more often. Leighton and Boucher simply aren't those guys and obviously it looks like neither are Elliott and Leclaire, but at least Elliott has won a huge championship.

SpezDispenser wrote:

Cap'n Clutch wrote:I know people like to rag on Leighton but he was putting up decent numbers and helped Philly get themselves back in the playoff hunt. He's most likely not the answer come playoff time but I'd hardly say that Philly was done before this injury. Unless you meant done as in there's no way they get out of the first round.

I'm a firm believer in Leighton and Boucher - as backups. Boucher is a great goalie, but he doesn't have the mental makeup to be a number one, neither does Leighton. Leighton got the Flyers to a playoff position by posting great numbers, but at the same time the Flyers were playing amazing hockey - like the Sens were for those 11 games. Come playoff time, the entire dynamics change and your goalie has to bail you out more often. Leighton and Boucher simply aren't those guys and obviously it looks like neither are Elliott and Leclaire, but at least Elliott has won a huge championship.

I guess we're in agreement then. I don't think any of Philly's goalies will get them anywhere in the playoffs but they certainly will be strong enough for them to maintain a playoff spot IMO.

Cap'n Clutch wrote:
I guess we're in agreement then. I don't think any of Philly's goalies will get them anywhere in the playoffs but they certainly will be strong enough for them to maintain a playoff spot IMO.

Agreed.

wprager wrote:Funny, I was looking at the standings and the scoreboard last night, and thought of posting "Does anyone else think Philly is done?"

I think they are done, unless they can get a goalie. Is Gerber back yet? I read that the initial fear that he had fractured vertebrae was not confirmed on further examination, and he only had a spinal contusion. Recovery should be weeks, and this was back in December, so I can only assume he's fine by now.

???

Gerber doesn't play in the NHL, and it's too late for any NHL team to sign any non-NHL players to play in the league this year. That deadline coincides with the trade deadline.

I think the Gerber comment was a joke but point taken.

Cap'n Clutch wrote:I think the Gerber comment was a joke but point taken.

Flyers are screwed. They needed to add a goalie at the deadline, from where ever, but they didn't. Who's Boucher's back-up now? I bet he's the starting goalie before the month is out. What a nightmare.

rooneypoo wrote:

Cap'n Clutch wrote:I think the Gerber comment was a joke but point taken.

Flyers are screwed. They needed to add a goalie at the deadline, from where ever, but they didn't. Who's Boucher's back-up now? I bet he's the starting goalie before the month is out. What a nightmare.

I still think they'll make the playoffs. I sure wish the Sens were facing them first round. It's like a free pass to round 2 for whoever faces them.

Cap'n Clutch wrote:I think the Gerber comment was a joke but point taken.

Yes. Started out as a joke. Then I remembered he had gotten hurt quite seriously, so I looked it up and added that info to the post so as to not appear like an insensible clod.

Cap'n Clutch wrote:
I still think they'll make the playoffs. I sure wish the Sens were facing them first round. It's like a free pass to round 2 for whoever faces them.

I wouldn't be quite so sure. 8 points up on the Thrashers, whom they play back-to-back Saturday and Sunday. If they lose to Dallas tonight and then the back to back to Atlanta, it'll be awfully close. That's even before next week starts. And they also play the Rangers home-and-home to close out the season. Those may very well be crucial games.