Flyers RW Knuble undergoes facial surgery

Feb 22, 2007 - 5:43 AM PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- Things continue to get worse for the NHL's worst team.

Philadelphia Flyers right wing Mike Knuble underwent surgery to insert a plate in his face to repair a fractured right cheekbone and orbital bone and will be sidelined for a month.

Knuble suffered the injury on Saturday night in a violent open-ice collision with Brendan Shanahan of the New York Rangers.

Shanahan was knocked unconscious and was hospitalized with a concussion. The Rangers on Wednesday placed him on injured reserve.

Knuble's surgery was performed by Dr. Guy Lanzi at Cooper Hospital in Camden, New Jersey.

Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren termed the procedure successful and said that Knuble will not resume any activity for seven to 10 days and is expected to return to action in "approximately" four weeks.

"Everything went well and Mike is resting comfortably," Holmgren said.

The 34-year-old Knuble has 22 goals and 21 assists for 43 points, ranking second on the Flyers in all three categories.

In 644 career games, Knuble has 157 goals and 159 assists.