[Drew]

Source: PhiladelphiaFlyers.com

Sidelined with a sprain of the medial collateral ligament in his left knee since October 14, Flyers forward Donald Brashear has now skated hard with the team during practice at the Sovereign Bank Flyers Skate Zone for the past two days.

He is hoping to return to the ice for Thursday?s game at the Wachovia Center against the Washington Capitals or Saturday?s afternoon matchup with the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden, but only if it continues to feel good.

?I talk to the doctor every day, and it feels better every day,? said Brashear. ?I?ll see how I feel the next few days before we will decide. Today it was a lot better. Right now, some days it?s good and some days it?s bad.?

Predictably, Brashear would rather be on the ice than watching from what must seem like a mile high to him in the press box of the Wachovia Center, as he has done for the last few home games. It can, however, have its advantages.

?When you are watching, you realize what your value to a team can be,? said Brashear. ?Especially in the games like in New Jersey, I could have brought some energy and kept the level of play up. At least I could have had a chance to change the game. When you?re on the outside, you can?t do anything.?

Head Coach Ken Hitchcock knows the value of a player like Brashear, who not only is one of the toughest players in the NHL, but has the ability to score and set up goals as well. Hitchcock has wondered whether having Brashear out of the lineup has afforded the opportunity to the Flyers? opponents to play more physical and take more liberties against them, without fear of any repercussions from the 6-2, 225-pound behemoth.

?When you?ve got the biggest dog on the block, you know that, and so does the other team,? said Hitchcock. ?I think from our standpoint, he?s not just a big player and a physical player, but he?s a good player. He?s got great, soft hands for a big man, and he?s very physical. He?s like a babysitter. He takes care of a lot of things that are going on on the ice that need taking care of.

?This is two full days with us. He was a little tired and sore yesterday, but he came back and had a good day today. We put him through a lot of aggressive one-on-one play today. If he feels no discomfort after tomorrow, then we have to consider breaking him in. I don?t feel that he needs to play Thursday, but he?s very close right now. I would say if he has another good day tomorrow then he should be ready to go.?