Flyers LW Gagne leaves game

Dec 31, 2008 - 6:59 AM VANCOUVER, British Columbia (Ticker) -- Philadelphia Flyers left wing Simon Gagne left Tuesday's 3-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks just 15 seconds into the contest with an upper body injury.

Gagne, who was on the receiving end of a hit by defenseman Kevin Bieksa, retreated to the locker room. He did not return.

"I didn't see it. It was down the wall and I got a quick look at it there," Flyers coach John Stevens said. "It's unfortunate losing a guy like that early in the game.

"Bieksa's a physical guy and I'm sure he's just trying to be physical on one of our really dangerous offensive players."

The 28-year-old Gagne, who was limited to just 25 games last season due to a concussion, has 18 goals and 22 assists in 36 contests this season.

"I was really proud of our team the way they stepped up," Stevens said. "(Gagne) goes down first shift and I thought guys in his absence just did a heck of a job. Claude Giroux moved up and played huge minutes and played a whale of a hockey game."