Thursday, March 18, 2010

Leighton to miss 8-10 weeks with high ankle sprain

by Bob Herpen
The Phanatic Magazine


Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Michael Leighton is slated to miss 8-to-10 weeks with a high left ankle sprain.

Leighton left the Flyers' 4-3 shootout loss at Nashville on Tuesday after falling backwards onto his leg while making a play late in the first period.

The 28-year-old's status had been reported as day-to-day by general manager Paul Holmgren during the game, but the team's website on Wednesday reported that Leighton was out of action for a few weeks.

The site then updated Leighton's status prior to Thursday's contest in Dallas against the Stars. On that timetable, Leighton would not be eligible to return until the Eastern Conference finals at the earliest should Philly advance that far. 

Brian Boucher will be the club's starter for the foreseeable future, with Jeremy Duchesne the emergency back-up after his recall from Adirondack of the AHL on Wednesday. Boucher hasn't faced a long-term starting role since 2004 with Phoenix, and has not been in this position with the Orange and Black since the early portion of the 2000-01 campaign.

The Flyers complete their current four-game road trip in Atlanta on Saturday, then return home Sunday to welcome the Thrashers in the back end of that home-and-home series.
 

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