Carter, Laperriere skate for the Flyers

DP · May 20, 2010

NHL.com Article

Carter, Laperriere both skate
05.20.2010 / 1:08 p.m. ET

Philadelphia forwards Jeff Carter and Ian Laperriere were on the ice at Bell Centre for the team's morning skate Thursday. It marked the first time Carter skated with the team since suffering a fractured right foot in Game 4 against the New Jersey Devils in the opening round of the playoffs.

Laperriere, who suffered a brain contusion in the series-clinching Game 5 victory against the Devils, has been skating with the team since being cleared for contact Monday.

Carter had a plate inserted into the shaft of the metatarsal of the second toe on his right foot April 23. His recovery has come much sooner than the initial six-week diagnosis. Still, both players remained out on the ice almost a full 30 minutes after most of the team had left, which usually means they won't be playing in that night's game.

Flyers General Manager Paul Holmgren didn't provide much detail when asked about either player's availability for Game 3 Thursday.

"Jeff Carter and Ian Laperriere are in Montreal. They are both day-to-day," Holmgren said in a statement to the media

Just to see Carter back on the ice was a breath of fresh air for his teammates.

"It's the first time I had a chance to practice with him and he's looking very good and that's what I told him," Simon Gagne said. "He's feeling better every day so that's a good sign."

Coach Peter Laviolette liked what he saw in Carter's first go-round at a team practice since suffering his injury. He began skating on his own Monday.

"Jeff looked good," Laviolette said. "His skating, shooting and passing looked good."

"Jeff's a competitor and wants to be out here," Scott Hartnell said. "What he's able to do on the ice in front of the net is so valuable. When he gets back here, and I'm not sure when it's going to be, it'll be a big boost for us. But just to see him out there zipping around has been pretty cool."

"I didn't pay much attention to him while we were skating, but broken foot or not he can still skip around the ice," Hartnell added. "He's one of the best skaters in the NHL and with him coming back, whenever that is, it'll be a big boost for us."

--Mike G. Morreale
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Big news for the Flyers. The lack of Carter hurt them, but their players are still fighting through. I think if both players return to the game then the Flyers will defiantly win this one.

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Carter, Laperriere skate for the Flyers

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Carter, Laperriere skate for the Flyers

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