Joffrey Lupul has 13 goals in 38 games this season. (Gerry Broome/Associated Press)California was unkind to the Philadelphia Flyers, who confirmed on Monday two key injuries from the weekend trip.
The most notable players were forward Joffrey Lupul, who will miss at least two weeks with an abdominal muscle injury, and goalie Anterro Niittymaki, who is battling a groin injury.
Lupul has 13 goals and 12 assists in 38 games, while nominal backup Niittymaki has posted better numbers than No. 1 netminder Martin Biron. The Finn is 8-3-4 with a 2.62 goals-against average and .913 save percentage.
They weren't the only ones dinged during the trip.
Former world Canadian junior Claude Giroux is out with concussion symptoms after taking an elbow — Anaheim's Corey Perry was suspended for the play — while fellow rookie Jonathon Kalinski had surgery at a New Jersey hospital on Monday to have blood drained from a leg contusion suffered in the Los Angeles game.
Josh Gratton played in Anaheim but not against the Kings due to a lower body injury.
"I don't remember it being like this," said general manager Paul Holmgren. "When you're in a position where you're dressing less than 18 healthy skaters, it's obviously not a good situation to be in."
Philadelphia (21-10-8) has lost three of the last five and is already missing Daniel Briere, Ryan Parent, Simon Gagne and Arron Asham to various injuries.
Parent and Gagne are said to be nearing a return to game action.
