Flyers 1 - 5 Canadiens
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Flyers head to Montreal without Pronger

Oct 26, 2011 - 2:49 PM (Sports Network) - Many wondered how the Flyers would replace the offense of Mike Richards and Jeff Carter following an offseason makeover.

While scoring goals hasn't been an issue, the loss of defenseman Chris Pronger could present a whole new problem.

Philadelphia will be without its captain for at least the next two weeks, a span that begins tonight against a Montreal Canadiens club that is off to its worst start in 70 years.

Following last season's disappointing playoff exit, the Flyers parted ways with two of their top offensive players in Richards and Carter. Though they added Jaromir Jagr, Wayne Simmonds and Jakub Voracek to help fill the void, Philadelphia figured to rely in its defense, led by Pronger and new goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov.

The Flyers have still averaged a healthy 3.38 goals per game so far this season, a pace they'll need to continue after Pronger suffered a scary eye injury in Monday's win over Toronto. The bruising blueliner took a high stick to his right eye with 8:02 left in the first period and immediately made his way to the bench while covering his face.

Pronger, who missed 22 games a season ago due to injury, did not return and Philadelphia general manager Paul Holmgren said the defenseman will be on bed rest for three days in the hopes of returning in a couple of weeks.

"Right now, he had a little bit of a cut just on the outside of his right eye here. The eye doctor checked him out thoroughly, and he's got a little bit of an issue right now with his eye," said Holmgren, who added Pronger had swelling around the eye.

Pronger's injury dampened Jagr's first two goals in a Flyers uniform. He had notched four assists through his initial seven games with Philadelphia after spending the previous three seasons in Russia. He scored his first NHL goals since April 6, 2008.

"Truly, I needed it," said Jagr, who also had an assist. "I feel a lot better right now than I have, that's for sure. I changed everything: the skate, gloves. I got hit in the head during warm-ups, so that helped."

Scott Hartnell also had a pair of goals and an assist for the Flyers, who snapped a two-game slide in the finale of a three-game homestand. Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 24 shots in the win.

Philadelphia is 3-0 on the road this year and has allowed just three goals in that span. It will face a Montreal club this evening that is off to its worst home start in team history (0-3-2) and is just 1-5-2 on the season. The Canadiens' current six-game losing streak, its longest since Feb. 6-17, 2007, has the club off to its worst start since opening the 1941-42 campaign 1-10-1.

Montreal, which has never lost seven straight games in the post-lockout era, saw its skid extended on Monday with a 2-1 loss to visiting Florida. Erik Cole notched the lone goal and Peter Budaj made 29 saves in his first start of the season.

"We had a big game from [Budaj] but nobody likes losing. I'm tired of it," Cole said. "We have just got to find a way to get over the hump and we just have to be tougher in front of their net to get those type of goals."

Despite ranking fourth with 33.9 shots per game, the Canadiens have scored just 18 goals.

Carey Price got the night off after failing in five straight attempts to win his 100th career game. Forward Scott Gomez also missed his second straight game due to an upper-body injury, while Max Pacioretty left Monday's game with an upper-body ailment.

The Flyers have won three straight and five of their last seven over the Canadiens, but have lost six of nine at the Bell Centre.






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