CALGARY, Alberta — Michael Del Zotto says he’s been wondering why he keeps reading about his sore right foot when it’s been his upper torso that’s been bothering him.
The Flyers' 24-year-old defenseman, who will re-enter the lineup Thursday night against the Flames, has missed six games because of his injury.
Everyone saw him take a shot off his right foot against Boston on March 8 and limp off the ice. In fact, he was even limping last weekend in Philadelphia before the Flyers headed to Ottawa.
“I wasn’t really limping, it was just a matter of not being able to move the body,” he said Wednesday, motioning up top. “Some pain. I needed some time to heal and rest it.
“I’ve gotten better each day and felt good on the ice today. I’m just taking it a day at a time. I told Chief (coach Craig Berube) I was ready today.”
Berube agreed Del Zotto is ready and said the club has sorely missed him. Since he’s been gone, the Flyers are 1-3-2. He returned in the Boston game, but sat out the next five.
“You miss his all-around game,” Berube said. “He plays 20-plus minutes and does everything … defensively, offensively. He adds a different element out there with his attack and speed.”
Del Zotto admits he took a shot off his right skate in the Boston game, but that wasn’t what was bothering him. His more serious injury actually occurred on the same shift, prior to getting banged with a puck. And that’s the injury — not the foot — that has kept him out of the lineup.
He said he wasn’t checked, but made an awkward turn in his upper torso and tweaked “something.”
Which would explain why the Flyers kept calling it “upper body” when the replays showed him getting hit on the foot.
“The injury was upper body,” he said. “It was before the puck, which wasn’t an issue. It hit my blade. I tweaked something and had to go off and was in a lot of pain.”
It was unfortunate because Del Zotto was playing so well and averaging almost 24 minutes over a span of several games when he got hurt.
During his absence, the Flyers fell out of the playoff hunt, although they remain mathematically alive.
“Tough timing, I guess, especially with being in the playoff race and wanting to help the team win any way you can,” he said.
“It’s tough to watch. I’m happy I’m getting better and ready to come back and help in any way I can.”
Loose pucks
Although he was impressed with the play of rookie center Nick Cousins in the loss at Vancouver, Berube said he was undecided if Cousins will remain in the lineup once Matt Read joins the team in Edmonton. … The Flyers practiced 30 minutes today at Scotiabank Saddledome. … Prospect Cole Bardreau, who signed with the Flyers last week, joined the Phantoms for an amateur tryout. ... Carlo Calaiacovo would likely be the defenseman to come out of the lineup for Del Zotto.