Following up on previous reports, Philadelphia Flyers left-winger Simon Gagne is scheduled for an MRI on his big right toe today. The 30-year-old had surgery last Friday on the broken toe, but is expected to hit the ice as early as this afternoon if all goes well. Gagne posted 0-2-2 in four playoffs games against the N.J. Devils last series, and averaged 18:11 minutes of ice time — 3:42 on the PP (4th most amongst forwards) and 2:51 on the PK.

Trentonian.com

Skating Friday could get Gagne back in the lineup sooner than expected. It depends on the schedule that comes out for the second round, but Gagne may be able to make it back for Game 4, but more likely Game 5 of the next round, if all goes according to plan.

Since receiving 60-70 stitches above his right eye after blocking a Paul Martin slapshot in Game 5 of the quarterfinals against the Devils last Thursday, Flyers right-winger Ian Laperriere is out for the remainder of the playoffs. The 36-year-old right-winger averaged 12:16 of ice time in all five quarterfinals playoff games, but had over a third of that time — 4:27 — coming on the shorthand/PK.

Philly.com/inquirer/sports

Laperriere is expected to miss the rest of the playoffs because of a brain contusion and concussion he suffered while blocking a shot. That means [Blair] Betts will have a new linemate and penalty-killing partner when the Flyers open the Eastern Conference semifinals Saturday at Boston at 12:30 p.m.

Betts and Laperriere formed a dynamic penalty-killing unit that helped the Flyers kill 28 of 32 power plays (87.5 percent) in the five-game series against New Jersey.