Briere had only just returned to the lineup, having missed 14 of the previous 16 games with different injuries, all of which are believed to have stemmed from the abdominal injury that required surgery earlier in the year.Doctors believe that this new injury is also related, but don't know why it happened in a game but not in training - maybe because nothing, even full training, comes close to the intensity of a proper NHL game.
GM Paul Holmgren has confirmed that the injury is more serious than was thought at the time, and that it had been niggling at Briere for some time.
Briere has played well when healthy this season, picking up nine points in as many games.
But this new injury means he is set to miss between 13 and 17 games, unless he rehabs ahead of schedule.
So far this season, Jeff Carter and Mike Richards have done a good job picking up the slack left by Briere's various absences.
Carter has 25 points in 24 games including an NHL leading 18 goals, whilst captain Richards has 26 points in the same span.
As always Simon Gagne is also pulling his weight, leading the team in points (31) and assists (18).
However in the long term, very few can make up for a guy who was the driving force behind Philly's resurrection and playoff run last season with 72 points, and who scored a massive 95 points for the Sabres in 2006/7:
But the Flyers will have to try, starting tonight against the Devils.
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