Off-ice issues leave Flyers, Bruins lineups in question

PHILADELPHIA -- It's a quiet afternoon here at the Wells Fargo Center. Because of the early start to today's game, plus the fact that both teams played yesterday, there was little happening prior to puck drop.

How the team's rosters could look today also is in question. The Bruins could be without defenseman Andrew Ference, who was facing a disciplinary hearing early Sunday for his hit yesterday on the Rangers' Ryan McDonagh.

Meanwhile, the Flyers will be without two of their top-six forwards due to injuries suffered in yesterday's game in New Jersey. Jaromir Jagr played just four shifts totaling 3:16 before being forced out with a lower-body injury, while forward Danny Briere is out indefinitely after being diagnosed with a concussion following the game.

Also, the team could be without fourth-line forward Zac Rinaldo, who left the game in the second period with an upper-body injury.

The Flyers called up forwards Tom Sestito and Ben Holmstrom from AHL Adirondack to fill out the roster.

Briere is the sixth Flyer to miss time with a concussion, and the third to currently miss time, joining defenseman Chris Pronger and forward James van Riemsdyk.

Jagr's loss marks the third time this season he'll miss time with a lower-body injury, which Jagr has said is a groin issue. Yesterday, rookie Brayden Schenn moved into Jagr's top-line spot, alongside Claude Giroux and Scott Hartnell. Whether he stays there remains to be seen.

Also up in the air is the starting goalie for either team. Philadelphia's Ilya Bryzgalov stopped 30 of 31 shots yesterday against New Jersey, and has started games on back-to-back days four times this season. However, he also was in goal the last time these teams met, allowing five goals on 20 shots in a 6-0 loss in Boston on Dec. 17. Lifetime against the Bruins, Bryzgalov is 5-2-1 with a 2.41 goals-against average and .916 save percentage in eight games. Backup Sergei Bobrovsky is 0-1-0 with a 1.96 GAA and .938 save percentage in two games against Boston.

Tuukka Rask stopped 30 of 33 shots in yesterday's 3-2 overtime loss to the New York Rangers, meaning it's likely Tim Thomas starts today against the Flyers. In 16 games against the Flyers, Thomas is 11-3-2 with a 2.04 GAA, .939 save percentage and two shutouts. He stopped all 31 shots Philadelphia threw at him in that Dec. 17 game.

Contact Adam Kimelman at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter: @NHLAdamK