Esche Cleared to Return
Goaltender could play as early as Saturday
Flyers goaltender Robert Esche has been medically cleared to play, and will travel with the Flyers on their upcoming road trip.
Below are comments from Esche and Flyers Head Coach Ken Hitchcock following the Flyers� 3-1 win over Chicago on Tuesday night.
Robert Esche
�I am very pumped, I am excited for the three challenges we have ahead of us this week. It was so frustrating just sitting around, this is really exciting for me. The doctor looked at everything, and he really put a lot of pressure on my knee. He thought I was good to go. It is always easier on the mind when you hear it from a doctor.
�When it comes to being a goalie, a lot of it is mental. You can�t simulate a game situation, you have to get in there.�
Ken Hitchcock
�Esche is cleared to play, so that would put Niittymaki back to the Phantoms. It is just adding more pieces to the puzzle. As we start to add people into our line-up, it will be players that were regular players and they are going to add something. Obviously Esche is going to add a confident goalie that has had a heck of year. We will see how he gets up to speed in the next 48 hours or so.
�I�m thinking that playing Esche is a distinct possibility [on Saturday], so we will see how he does. He has had great practices, and looked no different in practice then when he was playing on a regular basis. We would like to get him in as quickly as possible. They said three-to-six weeks and it�s been about three and a half now, and it�s on the good end for Esche and the good end for us. He feels great. I thought he would be another week, but they did everything and he is ready to go.�
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Oh this is all but Heaven sent! ITS A MIRACLE! OH BABY!!! OHHHHH WAHOOOOOOOOO! Burke is gonna take a seat and Esche is gonna be back in net! Oh yeah...now we have a goalie capable of beating a team thats worth beating.(Burke beat the Blackhawks but come om...it was the BLACKHAWKS!)
This is the BEST news Ive heard in days! YA FREAKING HOO!!!!
(((dances around singing like a fool)))
DA2KOKIB,
Jules