Bright: Flyers Should Play Cautious With Giroux
It could be felt across Philadelphia.
The type of fear and trepidation that only a head trauma injury could bring.
Late in the second period of Saturday night’s 5-2 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning, an ill-fated and misplayed body check by Claude Giroux put him in the direct contact with teammate Wayne Simmonds.
Simmonds did his best to dodge Giroux, but in trying to leap over him, kneed the Flyers’ leading scorer in the back of his head. Giroux stumbled off the ice and shortly after was sent into the locker room.
He did not return to the game as a precaution according to general manager Paul Holmgren. He will be re-evaluated on a day-to-day basis.
The nightmare that Giroux did indeed suffer a concussion is all too real for the Flyers, who, just one day ago, announced that they lost center Brayden Schenn to the brain issue and captain Chris Pronger to “concussion-like” symptoms.
Even though the Flyers’ and possible league MVP was not ruled to have a concussion immediately, did not lose consciousness and didn’t appear woozy as he left the ice under his own power, the Flyers would be smart to err in the side of caution. Extreme caution.
In taking care of their own superstar, who has 16 goals and 23 assists in 28 games this season, the Flyers should look no further than another superstar for an example of what not to do. Last season, Pittsburgh Penguins forward Sidney Crosby was rattled on an incidental headshot by then Washington Capitals forward David Steckel. Crosby shook off the bump and returned to play just days later only to aggravate his head injury and suffer an official concussion that kept him out for over a year. It is still threatening his career.
Coach Peter Laviolette said that making a decision on Giroux’s availability in the next couple games would be “speculation” one way or the other.
Whether Giroux is feeling immediate symptoms, passed the baseline concussion tests or not, the Flyers and Holmgren need to keep him off the ice and away from the rigors of air travel. The Flyers play Tuesday in Washington and on Thursday in Montreal, two games he should, but may not miss.
“The team did the right thing by not letting him come back [into the game],” said Danny Briere.
It should be noted that Pronger also felt fine following a head injury in late October. He passed baseline tests, only to be crippled by lingering symptoms the Flyers called a “virus.” With Schenn, the Flyers allowed their young cornerstone to practice last Tuesday, said he was likely to play, only to pull him from the roster on Wednesday against the Buffalo Sabres. He remains out.
Head injuries, particularly concussion symptoms, have the tendency to creep up on players and attack without warning. They are shifty, sneaky and career threatening.
The Flyers can’t let this one sneak up on Giroux.
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