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Panthers limping into Flyers’ game

Florida Panthers v New Jersey Devils

NEWARK, NJ - JANUARY 06: Tomas Fleischmann #14 of the Florida Panthers in action against the New Jersey Devils during their game on January 6, 2012 at The Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Al Bello

The Philadelphia Flyers are dealing with more than their fair share of injury woes, but they certainly don’t have a monopoly on misfortune.

Philadelphia’s opponent on Saturday, the Florida Panthers (7:30 p.m. ET at the BB&T Center), might play minus their entire first line, according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Tomas Fleischmann sustained a foot laceration that needed stitches on Thursday while Kris Versteeg (groin) and Stephen Weiss (lower body) are also questionable.

“We’re cautiously optimistic that they’re going to be short-term injuries,” Panthers coach Kevin Dineen said.

That’s in addition to the absence of forwards Sean Bergenheim (groin) and Marcel Goc (ankle), who have yet to play this season.

To help cope with those losses, Florida has called up 21-year-old forward Quinton Howden, who might make his NHL debut on Saturday. Under normal circumstances 23-year-old forward Scott Timmins would have also been a serious candidate to get promoted, but he is -- you guessed it -- injured.

Meanwhile, Philadelphia Flyers forward Danny Briere (wrist) might be available to return this week, but they will be without defenseman Andrej Meszaros (shoulder) for about a month.