Flyers lose Matt Read for six weeks

PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia Flyers announced Thursday that forward Matt Read will miss six weeks with torn muscles in his rib cage.

Read, who has a team-best seven goals, was hurt with 3:24 left in the first period of Wednesday's game against the Pittsburgh Penguins when he was hit by the Pens' Chris Kunitz.

Read's absence in the short term allows Tye McGinn to return to the lineup in Read's spot on the Flyers' top line, alongside Claude Giroux and Jakub Voracek. And with forward Scott Hartnell about a week away from returning, the Flyers could temporarily survive any dip in offense.

Coincidentally, it's the third time already this season one of Giroux's linemates has sustained a serious injury. Hartnell broke his foot Jan. 22 skating with Giroux. Simmonds replaced him and then missed three games with a concussion suffered Feb. 1.

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