Chris Pronger took a stick in the right eye with eight minutes to play in the first period Monday and is out for at least two weeks - and that's if things go well over the next 96 hours.

Trying to block a Mikhail Grabovski slapshot during the Flyers 4-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs, Pronger was clipped in the eye by Grabovski's stick on the follow through to his shot.

Pronger dropped to the ice and started screaming.

It was a scary moment.

Here's Danny Briere talking about it (plus some other things from the Flyers win)



Pronger will need bed rest for four days, and assuming there's no further problems, can start skating in about two weeks.

But he's not out of the woods yet. These next four days are critical. If blood starts to coagulate and clot, it could mean more problems lie ahead, and a tougher and longer road to recovery.

Here's Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren on the injury:

Q: (Inaudible)

“… very scary incident, in particular watching him come off the ice like that. Right now, he had a little bit of a cut just on the outside of his right eye here. The eye doctor checked him out thoroughly, and he’s got a little bit of an issue right now with his eye. We think max, three or four days… no real concern, other than what might happen over the next three or four days, whether it’s swelling or something behind the eye. So he’s basically going to be on bedrest for three days, and hopefully he’ll be fine within a couple weeks.

Q: Did he go to the hospital?

“No, our eye doctor came here. He’s going to see the eye doctor every day for the next four days. We think after that time that he’ll be out of, we don’t want to say danger, but if everything goes ok and if the swelling goes down, he should start on some kind of an exercise program shortly after that, and we’re hoping he’ll be able to rejoin the team within ten days to two weeks. And skating-wise, not necessarily playing wise.”

Q: Is there a prognosis on it?

“Well, not really. The prognosis is that he was hit on the side here and there’s a lot of swelling around his eye and the hope is that the blood doesn’t build up there and create issues. That’s why he’s going to be on bedrest here for the next four days.”

Q: Which doctor?

“Doctor Goldman.”

Q: Holmgren, when this happens, (inaudible)?

“Well, when Chris comes back, he’ll be wearing a visor. We made it mandatory in the American Hockey League and it’s not an issue. Obviously some of these players have been around a long time and for whatever reason they don’t want to wear them. When Chris comes back… (inaudible). I think the improvements on the visor over the last few years, compared to what it was ten or 15 years ago, are tremendous. Other than getting a little sweat in there and some water on the visor, I don’t think it’s a big issue. I’m not sure our doctor would clear him to play unless (inaudible).” I think Chris was really scared after this incident tonight, and I would like to believe (inaudible).

Q: Did he lose his sight at all?

“No. It was blurred.”

Q: Because of the salary cap right now, I don’t know if you guys can afford to bring somebody else up or are you comfortable with Lilja, Walker and…

“We have players we can use. We’ll be fine.”

Q: (inaudible) he was obviously in a lot of pain.

“He wasn’t in the mood to talk. I think he was very scared, and rightly so. When something like that happens to your eye, you’re worried and you don’t know what’s going on, but I think he settled down over a period of time and was fine.”

Q: Did you think Toronto was a little careless with their sticks tonight overall?

“It’s a fast game, and things happen quickly. The first six games you could say we were careless with our sticks. It’s a freak accident, and obviously a very scary accident.”