When the Flyers left the Verizon Center Friday night, they went for a bus while Patrick Thoresen went to the hospital with what they all feared was a ruptured testicle, the result of blocking a shot by the Capitals' Mike Green in the third period.
The concerns were obvious, that Thoresen would need surgery and lose the testicle. He was admitted to the hospital, had an ultrasound performed, was kept overnight in the hospital, had another ultrasound performed, and then came the stunning news: he was released, there will be no surgery, and he might even play in Sunday's Game 2.
"I will not be surprised if he plays tomorrow," Flyers GM Paul Holmgren said. "...He's a tough kid."
This was perhaps the understatement of the century. As the news spread among the players, the jokes started. It is what members of the male species do whenever they gather, especially when it isn't their testicles that are being discussed. Some of what was said was very funny. Virtually none of it was publishable.
When asked if Thoresen would dress on Sunday, Flyers coach John Stevens would not go past a "we'll see." He said the decision probably would not be made until just before the game.
In other injury news, Randy Jones (flu) figures to be back for Game 2, which means that either Ryan Parent or Lasse Kukkonen -- who was abused by the Caps' Alex Ovechkin on the Game 1 game-winner -- will sit. Stevens said he hasn't yet decided who.
Then there is Derian Hatcher. It is not a secret that the Flyers could really use a healthy Hatcher, who is trying to work his way back from a broken leg. Hatcher did not skate at practice yesterday and will not play in Game 2, but he will skate tomorrow morning and said, "I'm hoping for Game 3 right now...I'm optimistic. Tomorrow, it will be good to see how it responds."
Rich Hofmann has been at the Daily News since 1980. He previously blogged the Eagles' postseason run in 2006. 
Ed Barkowitz was the first Philadelphia Newspaper journalist to write a blog, starting back in 2002.
Comments (6)
As a Caps fan all I can say is if I were a Flyers fan I would give a nut for victory! That was a joke. . .I'm glad to hear he is ok.
Let me also add as I have been reading through your papers and blogs, all I can say is as a group Philly fans are somewhat classless. Not all of you but as a group . . .
Just thought you should know.
Go Caps!
Posted by BooHoo | April 13, 2008 1:36 AM
This Sharks fan is really glad to hear that he's going to be okay -- my husband instinctively crosses his legs every time he hears about the injury. The refs blew it though by not blowing the whistle -- he was obviously seriously injured and who knew if he was suffering any sort of internal bleeding?
Best wishes to Thoresen and to the Flyers from the West Coast -- wouldn't mind meeting up with you in the Cup Finals. ;)
Posted by Roberta | April 13, 2008 2:59 AM
First, I'm glad Thoresen is OK.....nobody wants to see a serious injury.
Second, I object to an accusation made in print by a Philly sportswriter (I don't recall who)who claimed that Caps' fans 'cheered' when Thoresen went down....that is complete b.s. I was there, and it was complete bedlam when the Caps entered the Flyers zone on the power play, long before Thoresen got hit. You could smell a goal coming, and the raucus cheering had nothing whatsoever to do with the injury.
Posted by Rick | April 13, 2008 10:44 AM
BooHoo...
To your post calling Philly fans "classless", shall we go back two days ago when Patrick Thoresen was writhing on the ice in excruciating pain while the Capitals fans were cheering, jeering and applauding that fact? Is that class?
Boo, please let me put this into perspective for you so you can see things a little better from your bandwagon view..the Capitals: (a) haven't been in the playoffs in 5 years, (b) haven't won a series in about 10 years, and (c) would again be enjoying the first round of playoffs from their couches were it not for ONE player, AO.
Go Flyers!
Posted by VoiceOfReason | April 13, 2008 10:53 AM
The idea of Philly fans calling ANYONE classless is a joke. Its like a KKK member callings someone a racist. The caps fans cheered because a goal was scored.
The idea that the city who booed Santa Claus, and who cheered Michael Irvin almost getting paralyzed would take offense at anything a fan did is laughable to say the least.
No city in the US has a bad as a reputation as Philly, and normally its a badge of honor. So I am surprised to see its fans complaining like a little girls.
Posted by CuseHoo | April 13, 2008 11:44 AM
I'm NOT surprised to see Philly fans complain like little girls. Just look at them whenever Crosby comes to town and the whining and temper tantrums start. Someone needs to give that city a bottle.
Posted by Ell Jay | April 13, 2008 12:31 PM