Timonen out for playoffs with blood clot

The Philadelphia Inquirer is reporting that the Flyers best defenseman, Kimo Timonen, will miss the Pens series and the rest of the playoffs with a blood clot in his ankle. Why is this significant? Timonen was one of their best d-men and was going to match up against Sid or Geno. He had success against the Habs and Caps but now what will John Stevens do with his defense? He still has Braden Coburn, who has been very good, but Hatcher and Smith don't measure up despite their physical play.

Missing one player, no matter how important, doesn't decide a playoff series. But this is not good news for the Filly Flyers.

Timonen out for playoffs with blood clot

Flyers defenseman Kimmo Timonen was diagnosed with a blood clot in his left ankle today. He will be out for the remainder of the playoffs.

The diagnosis was made at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Timonen said.

"I got hit with a shot in Game 4 against Montreal," said Timonen, 33. "It's been getting sorer and sorer every day. We thought we'd get it checked out because it didn't get better and they found a blood clot.

"This was just an awful day for me. I played in Game 5 in Montreal, but it was really hurting me. I have to be honest: I didn't expect this result. How many times in your life do you get a chance to play for this, with a chance to go to the Stanley Cup Finals? This is just awful."

Timonen did not make the trip to Pittsburgh for tomorrow's start of the Eastern Conference finals against the Penguins.