Injured Briere ‘doubtful’ for tonight’s Flyers game

If the Flyers are going to make the playoffs this weekend, they might have to do it without the services of their No. 1 center Danny Briere.

Briere said he is "doubtful" to play in tonight's game at the Wachovia Center against the New Jersey Devils because of a sprained left knee.

"We have done some things this morning [regarding treatment]," Briere said. "We still don't know. It is going to depend on how it goes this afternoon. I will show up at the game and get ready and see if we can make it work for tonight. We are just not sure yet. It is frustrating. That's why I want to be out there. I want to help out the team. We all are aware of the situation. But sometimes there is just nothing you can do. I am hoping I will be on the ice tonight and be able to help my teammates."

Briere took a nasty knee-on-knee hit from Penguins' forward Jarkko Ruutu during Wednesday's 4-2 loss in Pittsburgh.

The Flyers refuse to admit he has a sprained knee and are calling this a "lower body injury," even though anyone who saw the game live or on television realizes it's a knee injury. Briere is not permitted to talk about his injury or comment on what it is.

The Flyers are seeded ninth in the Eastern Conference overall standings with 91 points. Boston (7th seed) and Washington (8th seed) both have 92 points. The Flyers' simplest route for making the playoffs is to sweep the weekend with victories against the Devils and Atlantic Division leader Pittsburgh.

Otherwise, they are going to need some help. So far, the Flyers have not gotten any help as the Capitals are on a six-game winning streak and have won 10 of their last 11 games. The Caps figure to defeat Florida on Saturday in their regular season finale.

The Devils can clinch the fourth seed tonight with a win over the Flyers, so New Jersey comes into town with something meaningful to play.

"We need to win both games whether I play or not," Briere said. "I don't think Washington is going to lose that last game at home."