Flyers D Hatcher injures leg

Mar 15, 2008 - 10:47 PM BOSTON (Ticker) -- Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Derian Hatcher left Saturday's 3-2 overtime loss to Boston midway through the first period after injuring his right leg while blocking a shot by Bruins blue-liner Andrew Ference.

Hatcher had to be helped from the ice after Ference blasted the puck off his right leg with 12:07 remaining in the opening session. He did not return.

The 35-year-old admitted after the game that he was worried about the severity of the injury.

"I cannot put any weight on it. When you can't put any weight on it, that is a bad sign," he said. "I am going home to have an MRI. There is reason to believe that there may be a fracture in there.

"The X-rays (taken Saturday) showed that there is definitely a reason to believe that, so that's why I am going home to get the MRI - to confirm it or to not confirm it."

Hatcher, who recently returned to the Flyers after a three-week absence with a sore right knee, will not accompany the team to Pittsburgh for Sunday's game against the Penguins.

"This is the stretch drive here," he said. "It is a real bad feeling not to be part of the team when you are battling for a playoff spot and games are so important."

Hatcher has two goals, five assists and 33 penalty minutes in 44 games this season.

The 6-5, 235-pound Hatcher has 80 goals, 331 points and 1,581 penalty minutes in 1,045 career games with the Minnesota North Stars-Dallas Stars franchise, Detroit Red Wings and Flyers.