Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Boucher may be out for remainder of playoffs, Giroux updated

Courtesy of the Philadelphia Flyers

Philadelphia Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren announced Tuesday that goaltender Brian Boucher is expected to miss at least a month with a Grade 2 MCL sprain in his left knee as well as injuries to his right knee.

Boucher was hurt in Monday's 4-0 win in Boston when teammate Ryan Parent fell on him during a goalmouth scrum with the Bruins' Miroslav Satan 4:35 into the second period. The defenseman's full weight appeared to come down on Boucher's left leg, causing the 33-year-old to writhe in pain.

He was escorted from the game by team training staff, and Michael Leighton took over in net. Boucher had stopped all nine shots he faced before exiting.

Leighton finished the game -- his first since suffering a high left ankle sprain on March 16 -- by making 14 saves to notch the second combined shutout in NHL playoff history.

Boucher was 6-4 with a 2.33 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage in this postseason.

With the Flyers still trailing in the series, 3-2, Leighton will likely start Game 6 on Wednesday, with Johan Backlund dressing as the backup.

Meanwhile, forward Claude Giroux is expected to be in the lineup after he was drilled into the boards from behind by Steve Begin late in the second period on Monday. Giroux sat out the rest of the game.

The Flyers are trying to become the third team in NHL history to win a playoff series after losing the first three games.

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