Jeff Carter, Simon Gagne Absent from Flyers Lineup Due to Foot, Toe Fractures

According to general manager Paul Holmgren, Flyers forwards Jeff Carter and Simon Gagne will undergo foot surgery on Friday after both forwards suffered fractures in Philly’s 4-1 Game Four win over the New Jersey Devils.

“Jeff Carter and Simon Gagne will both have right foot surgery on Friday performed by Dr. Steve Raikin in Philadelphia to repair fractures. Simon could return to action in three weeks. Jeff is out indefinitely,” noted Holmgren in a released statement.

Carter suffered a fractured right foot after taking a Chris Pronger blast off his skate in the third period—in which he jammed home the rebound for his second goal of the game—while Gagne fractured his right toe after being struck twice by the puck in the second period.

Despite Holmgren saying that Gagne could return to action in three weeks, don’t expect him to play in the next round should the Flyers finish off the Devils. Philly has a commanding 3-1 series lead over Jersey.

In three postseason games, Gagne struggled scoring goals, but controlled his frustrations by playing outstanding two-way hockey—unlike Joyzee’s superstar Ilya Kovalchuk, who was throwing hissy fits when things weren’t going his way in the first two games.

Carter was slowly progressing from his previous left foot fracture in the first three games before breaking out of his playoff funk in Game Four when he scored two goals and recorded an assist.

Ville Leino and David Laliberte are expected to enter the lineup for Game Five on Thursday night. Leino played seven games with the Red Wings in last year’s playoffs, while Laliberte will see his first NHL playoff action.

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