MORE on Hatcher:

Hatcher may have some meniscus damage to the knee, as well.

“Hopefully, it’s just as simple as it sounds,” he said. “I think it is. It was feeling pretty good. I think I injured it in the weight room after a game this season.”

He thinks he injured the knee doing leg presses after a game earlier this season.

“That leg press machine is the only thing I can think of that did this," he said. "There was nothing wrong before. After that, it started swelling and got progressively worse.”

**

Scottie Upshall (left wrist fracture) on his return:

“I feel really good. It’s been two weeks where I got to practice with the team. I’ve gotten more comfortable with the speed and keeping up with guys.

"Skating with [Jeff] Carter the last couple of days has been really good. They play with a lot of speed and skill and I’m looking forward to playing against Montreal with them.”

Upshall told me the one thing he can't do right now is a snap shot with the wrist. And that's his favorite shot.

Good to see that Kapanen stays on that line. I watched them today in practice and thought they had some juice.

“[Upshall's] looked great in practice,” Stevens said. “He’s looked like he’s been ready to go for 10 days now and is chomping at the bit. He’s practiced on a line with Carter and those guys look like there’s chemistry back there.”

**

Four Pittsburgh-area players in the NHL: RJ Umberger, Nate Guenin, Ryan Malone and John Zeiler. Wayne Fish calls them the "Mario Lemieux Generation," because they grew up watching and idolizing him.

**

Derian Hatcher will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his right knee tomorrow to drain fluids and clean it up. He will miss 2-4 weeks. Hatcher told me he's not worried.

Nate Guenin replaces him in the lineup ... more later ...

**

Scottie Upshall is on a line with Jeff Carter and Sami Kapanen. I wonder if this means Upshall is cleared to play against Montreal tomorrow night?

That would be exciting news, eh?

Mike Richards is centering RJ Umbergere and Joffrey Lupul.

**

Yawl wondering about Simon Gagne, eh?

No Gagne on the ice. We have the line of Scott Hartnell, Danny Briere and Mike Knuble, which the Flyers used Saturday up in Boston.

It's beginning to bother me that the Flyers refuse to use the "c" word for Gagne - concussion.

He flunked the baseline exam. My prediction? By the time Gagne returns to the lineup, he will have sat out the recommened rest period for a mild concussion - week.

That recommendation which the NHL wants all clubs to follow if from the American Neurological Association.

Again, I ask, why won't the Flyers call a concussion a concussion?

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