VOORHEES, N.J. -- Patrick Thoresen gingerly walks through the Flyers' locker room, still needs ice to ease swelling in his groin and is unlikely to play in Game 3 of Philadelphia's playoff series against Washington.
While blocking a shot Friday in Game 1, the Flyers' forward took a puck to the groin and nearly lost one of his testicles.
He said Monday, when he wasn't joking about his scary injury to reporters, he would slide in front of a whizzing puck again if he had to block a shot this postseason.
"That's my job, "Thoresen said. "I'm sacrificing myself for the team. That's what it's all about, especially in the playoffs."
The next time Thoresen has to talk about a cup, he hopes it's for hoisting the Stanley Cup and not about the dented, protective one that saved his testicle from removal.
"He sacrificed himself, there," center Daniel Briere said. "Those are big plays and sometimes you're going to lose guys. It shows how much he's willing to sacrifice for his teammates."
That's a lot to sacrifice.
"It's a lot," said Briere, chuckling. "But that's the way you're going to win. That's what you have to do."
While men everywhere surely felt queasy watching the replay, Thoresen laughed about the incident and cracked a couple off-color, one-liners about his uncomfortable condition.
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| Philly's Patrick Thoresen literally takes one for the team. (US Presswire) |
Thoresen said he appreciated a message Green left through the Flyers' trainer.
Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren said there wasn't much chance that Thoresen would play in Game 3 on Tuesday night.
The series is tied at 1-1. Thoresen expects to skate again on Tuesday and was optimistic he would play again against the Capitals.
Thoresen, claimed on waivers from Edmonton in February, was released from the hospital Saturday after tests revealed no serious injury. The Flyers originally feared the testicle was ruptured.
Washington was on the power play when Thoresen was injured. Officials did not stop play, in effect giving the Capitals a two-man advantage during which they scored the tying goal in a 5-4 victory. Thoresen didn't have a problem with the play continuing while he rolled around the circle in complete agony. Not that he really cared at that point.
"I didn't have time to think because the pain was so, so huge," Thoresen said. "I was like, get me off the ice and give me some ice. It was a little scary."
Notes
- Martin Biron had Monday off after his wife, Anne Marie, gave birth to the couple's third child. The baby girl, their third child, was born at 7:54 a.m. and weighed in at 6 pounds, 10 ounces and is 20 inches long.
- Defenseman Derian Hatcher said he's available to play Game 3 for the first time since he broke his leg on March 15.
