Flyers will honor Boston during game with Bruins

With just three games to go for the Flyers, Tuesday's matchup at the Wells Fargo Center with the Boston Bruins will provide emotional moments on several fronts.

The Flyers plan several ways to honor those affected by the Boston Marathon bombings.

From a hockey standpoint, it will be the first time Jaromir Jagr will be facing the Flyers since he left the team in July to sign with Dallas as a free agent.

The Flyers will wear "Boston Strong" patches on their uniforms and stickers on their helmets. There will be various tributes during the game, including the recognition of Temple podiatry students who were on site at the Boston Marathon lending their services. There will be a raffle and later every player's jersey will be auctioned to benefit onefundboston.org.

"This really hit home and touched Americans and people across the road," Flyers coach Peter Laviolette, a Franklin, Mass., native said after Monday's practice. "Recognition of what happened and the events that have taken place is certainly a good thing."

Added captain Claude Giroux, "This is something you like to see and support something like that and you want to do it. Boston is a great city and you hate for something like that to happen."

General manager Paul Holmgren said he was glued to his television watching the events unfold. "It is a tragedy, and it is good [Tuesday] we will show support," Holmgren said.

Jagr was acquired by Boston on April 2 from Dallas.

Last season for the Flyers, he had 19 goals and 35 assists in 73 games. Jagr added a goal and seven assists in 11 playoff games. He signed with Dallas as a free agent and had 14 goals and 12 assists in 34 games before being traded. Jagr has two goals and six assists in nine games for the Bruins.

More than his production, Jagr's influence in the Flyers locker room was crucial. He was a popular player, and no one benefited more than Giroux.

Giroux set career highs with 28 goals, 65 assists and 93 points. Fellow linemate Scott Hartnell had career high in goals (37) and points (67) and tied his career high with 30 assists

"Jaromir was a really steady influence for young guys and set a great example with his work ethic," Laviolette said. "He found a lot of chemistry, especially with Claude, and was a real good influence in our room."

Everyone who talked about Jagr's influence mentioned his off-the-charts work ethic.

"He was working all the time, and when you see a guy like that, a Hall of Famer, the way he treats his body and works so hard to get where he has been, it is pretty impressive," Giroux said.

Jagr, who has 681 career goals, was a star who didn't act like one, according to his teammates.

"For us, it was like playing with a legend," Danny Briere said. "I feel fortunate I am able to say I played with Jaromir Jagr for one year in my career."

Notes. The Flyers recalled forwards Jason Akeson, Tye McGinn and Scott Laughton plus defenseman Matt Konan from their AHL affiliate, the Adirondack Phantoms. . . . Flyers defenseman Kent Huskins, who has been sidelined with a concussion he suffered April 15 in a 7-3 win at Montreal, could return this season, according to Holmgren. "He passed all his tests and obviously now it's about getting his feet wet, practicing with the team," Holmgren said. "He is probably not an option [Tuesday] but maybe in the next two games." . . . Jagr scored the first goal in Sunday's 3-0 win over Florida that snapped Boston's four-game losing streak. It was his 118th game-winning goal, tying Phil Esposito for most in NHL history.