Provorov won't need surgery, Simmonds among Flyers who likely will

VOORHEES, N.J. -- Ivan Provorov played Game 6 of the Eastern Conference First Round with a Grade 3 sprain of the AC joint in his left shoulder that the Philadelphia Flyers defenseman said should have sidelined him 6-8 weeks.

Provorov's was one of the injury updates given Wednesday when Flyers players had their final availability following a season-ending 8-5 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins at Wells Fargo Center on Sunday.
The 21-year-old was injured when he fell into the boards late in the third period of a 4-2 win in Game 5 but played 20:31 in Game 6, second among Flyers defensemen behind Shayne Gostisbehere (23:02).
"I did all the tests well with the doctors before the game," Provorov said. "They said I was good to go and it was up to me then. As long as my arm was attached, I was playing. ... In the third period, I was starting to lose the feel for my arm and lost the puck a bunch of times, turned it over. But as a competitor, it's hard to not be out there and not try to do everything to help the team win."

Provorov said his injury will not require surgery and that he expects to start his offseason workouts in July, as he has in previous seasons.
Forward Wayne Simmonds said he played all season with a torn pelvis, an injury he believes he sustained before training camp. He said doctors told him if he could manage the pain, he could play through the injury.
"[Surgery] wasn't something I wanted to do," he said. "I thought I would be able to play through it. … I didn't play up to my expectations this year. Very frustrating year. Things didn't go the way I wanted. But it was something that if I could play, I could play. I probably could have taken some time to do it, but I would have been out for probably a month and a half, something like that."
In October, Simmonds sustained a groin injury, lost six teeth when hit by a stick while sitting on the bench, and broke his ankle when hit by a Gostisbehere shot, but he did not miss any time.
He missed seven games after tearing a ligament in his thumb during a fight with New York Rangers defenseman Tony DeAngelo on Feb. 18.
"I don't regret playing through it," Simmonds said of his injuries. "That's just my character. If I'm able to play, if I'm healthy enough to contribute, I'm going to do that. It's something I could play through and did through the end of the year. My performance wasn't the best, (but) I definitely don't regret it. … I don't know if it's the right thing, but I can't not play. I think it's geared in my head where if I'm not dead or not deathly sick, I'm going to try to get out there and do whatever I can."
Simmonds said he likely will need surgery to repair the pelvis injury but expects to be healthy for the start of training camp in September.
Goaltender Michal Neuvirth, who started Games 5 and 6 against the Penguins, said he needs arthroscopic surgery on each hip, and goalie Brian Elliott said he expects to need a follow-up procedure after having core muscle surgery Feb. 13. Each said he expects to be healthy for the start of training camp.
Neuvirth returned to the lineup from a lower-body injury sustained March 28 to replace Elliott in Game 4 against the Penguins. He made 30 saves in Game 5 but allowed seven goals on 20 shots in Game 6.
"It's playoffs … no one is 100 percent," Neuvirth said. "You've got to play through the pain."
Elliott returned from his surgery to start the final two games of the regular season and help the Flyers qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He started the first four games against the Penguins.
"Definitely came back a little early," he said. "Crawling on the (trainer's) table after the games. You're just trying to push through it. … It got better every day just because of that, how you have to tear [scar tissue] up to get full range of motion again. I'm confident that it'll get back to normal."
Forward Sean Couturier, who played Games 5 and 6 against the Penguins with a torn MCL in his right knee, reiterated that he will not need surgery.