Even on a night where the Flyers don’t suffer any injuries, they find away to lose a player.

The NHL announced that Flyers’ forward Daniel Briere has been suspended two games for a late hit on the Avalanche’s Scott Hannan last night. That means Briere will miss Wednesday’s game against the Islanders as well as Friday nights contest at his former employer, the Buffalo Sabres.

The news is the latest blow for a Philadelphia team that is already without the services of Simon Gagne, Darroll Powe and Blair Betts for the next four to six weeks or so. ]

Winger Aaron Asham is also sidelined with an injury to his side, and it is unknown when he will return.
The Flyers are in a very tough spot right now, playing in a division that is unforgiving. If the Flyers slide they can find themselves in a deep whole fast.

The Inquirer’s Sam Carchidi wrote about how if the Flyers are an elite team they must be able to overcome injuries here: http://www.philly.com/inquirer/sports/20091123_Flyers_out_to_overcome_injuries.html

Carchidi is correct in his statement, but the Flyers have yet to show that they can overcome being this shorthanded, dropping their last three contests. We will find out a lot more about this team over the next month or two. Younger players will get their chance and the team may need a different guy to step up every night.

This glue that must hold this team together while it heals is Ray Emery, who has had a difficult week, suffering six and five goal nights. If he can return to the form he had through the first 20 or so games, the Flyers should be able to stay right with the top teams in the Atlantic.

If not, the team will be playing a lot of catch-up to start the New Year.