Flyers coach John Stevens said James van Riemsdyk didn't feel 100 percent at the morning skate and when pressed on the matter, conceded that he didn't the full "energy" to play.
We'll follow this closely to see how JVR is tomorrow at practice. Right now, the club expects him to play on Saturday against Anaheim. Lack of energy is one minor symptom of concussions. The good news is, JVR has none of the more familiar, more serious symptoms: sluggishness, headache, vomiting, etc.
Ole-Kristian Tollefsen reoplaces Danny Syvret in the lineup tonight. More "bang" for your Flyer buck against the Penguins.
James van Riemsdyk said all the right things today after practice about how well he feels and how he has not had any concussion symptoms following last night's head hit on the boards at the hands of Milan Jurcina.
He passed his baseline exam and officially, as of now, does not have a concussion. He didn't practice with the Flyers today, but instead, rode the bike. Without incident.
And even though GM Paul Holmgren told me JVR is day-to-day and a game-time decision, I am going to go out on a limb and say there is no way in hell he plays against the Penguins.
Why? Because JVR is 20-years-old and this is his first possible head injury and the Flyers don't need to rush him back in the lineup. What's wrong with giving the kid ONE game to assure there is no concussion symptoms?
The list is endless of players who felt fine after games and played a game or two and then got sacked with post-concussion syndrome. If the Flyers value JVR as much as they say they do, they wait ONE more game before letting him play again to be sure.
Look for Ian Laperriere to take all those Blair Betts draws on PK now ... and look for Claude Giroux, among others, to have a bigger bite, as Ken HItchcock used to say, on PK minutes.
Betts' MRI was postponed on his right shoulder because he can't lift it ...
For more on the FLyers, and Betts, and JVR himself talking, here's my story on CSNPhilly.com:
Clilck Here 
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger • 
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