Flyers look to regroup against Devils

NEWARK, N.J. -- After accumulating the seventh-highest penalty-minute total in Philadelphia Flyers history in a home loss to the Washington Capitals less than 24 hours ago, the team got the morning off in preparation for the New Jersey Devils on Saturday at Prudential Center (7 p.m. ET).

The Flyers recalled forward Tye McGinn from their American Hockey League affiliate in Adirondack after it was learned forwards Steve Downie (concussion) and Vincent Lecavalier (facial injury) would not suit up against the Devils. It's possible the team might recall one other forward.

Downie and Lecavalier were injured during a fight-filled affair at Wells Fargo Center on Friday in which Philadelphia amassed 99 minutes in penalties, the most since a franchise record 231 against the Ottawa Senators on March 5, 2004.

Lecavalier sustained a facial injury during a fight in the third period with Steve Olesky and will miss at least one game. Downie was taken to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania after trading blows with Aaron Volpatti in the second period. Downie suffered a concussion and his status is unknown.

Philadelphia is last in the Metropolitan Division with three wins and six points. Adding insult to the poor start is the fact the team has scored 20 goals in 12 games and Claude Giroux and Scott Hartnell remain goal-less.

Devils coach Peter DeBoer was asked for his thoughts on Giroux being without a goal at this stage in the season.

"It scares the hell out of me for tonight," he said.

DeBoer acknowledged he did see the third period of the game between the Flyers and Capitals.

"I think whenever that happens to anybody, and we've all been on the other end of those, there's a lot of pride for all the players in the NHL," DeBoer said. "So I have no doubt we're going to get their best game [Saturday]."

Flyers coach Craig Berube was asked if his team has hit rock bottom.

"Well it can't get a whole lot lower, can it?," he said during the postgame press conference Friday.

It marked the ninth time in Flyers history the team was shut out while allowing seven or more goals.

Flyers fans vented their frustration before the second period ended, directing their frustration at general manager Paul Holmgren with chants of "Fi-re Holm-gren!"

"I can't blame the fans," Holmgren said. "We're as frustrated as they are. If I was sitting in the stands, I'm not sure I'd be chanting, but I might be thinking the same thing. It's part of the business."

Rick Tocchet, who spent 11 of his 18 seasons in the League as a member of the Flyers and now serves as a hockey analyst for Comcast SportsNet, acknowledged the only thing the Flyers have right now is each other.

"Craig Berube has been preaching to this team to protect the middle, no turnovers, win battles," Tocchet said during the postgame report. "Those are the keys that he wanted and obviously the Flyers didn't do that [against Washington]. Right now, the only thing the Flyers have is each other and maybe getting right back at it Saturday will help."

Comcast SportsNet television color analyst Keith Jones echoed those sentiments.

"They got their rear ends handed to them after a decent first period; the Flyers just did not play well," Jones said. "It comes down to playing for the guy beside you. [Craig] Berube tried everything in this game. He changed lines, used different power-play combinations, called timeout when the team needed it. The bottom line is players need to find that pride to move forward and change around their season."

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