Flyers hit hard by flu, fall to Bruins

Feb 5, 2009 - 2:42 AM PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- The Philadelphia Flyers skated to a 3-1 loss to the Eastern Conference-leading Boston Bruins on Wednesday without three key players as captain Mike Richards, right wing Scottie Upshall and defenseman Braydon Coburn all sat out with the flu.

Drafted 24th overall in 2003, Richards entered the day second on the team in scoring with 50 points in 49 games. The 23-year-old native of Kenora, Ontario had a breakout season in 2007-08, notching 28 goals and 47 assists in 73 contests.

Upshall, 25, has registered six goals and 11 assists in 45 games this campaign. Selected by Nashville with the sixth overall pick in the 2002 draft, the 6-foot, 197-pounder from Fort McMurray, Alberta was acquired from the Predators in February 2007 in the deal involving Peter Forsberg.

The 23-year-old Coburn missed his second straight game with the illness. In 48 contests this campaign, the 6-5, 220-pound native of Calgary has recorded five goals, 13 assists and 65 penalty minutes.

Coburn was obtained from Atlanta in February 2007 after being drafted eighth overall by the Thrashers in 2003.

To fill the void on the roster, the Flyers recalled defenseman Ryan Parent and center Jared Ross from the Philadelphia Phantoms of the American Hockey League.

Parent, who was acquired from Nashville with Upshall in February 2007, made his season debut with the Flyers on Wednesday, recording his first NHL point with an assist in 19 minutes, 8 seconds of ice time. The 6-2, 205-pounder from Prince Albert, Saskatchewan has registered one assist and 18 penalty minutes in 15 games with the Phantoms this campaign.

The 21-year-old Parent also has collected six penalty minutes in 24 career contests with the Flyers.

Ross, 26, made his NHL debut earlier this season, notching two penalty minutes in five games. On Wednesday, he logged 10 minutes, 15 seconds of ice time without recording a point.

The 5-9, 165-pound native of Huntsville, Alabama also has amassed team highs of 19 goals and 42 points in 38 contests with the Phantoms. In the AHL All-Star Game last month, Ross registered one tally and six assists en route to winning the Most Valuable Player award.