Groin woes ground high-flying Berard

By MIKE ZEISBERGER -- Toronto Sun
The only ice time Bryan Berard will get today is in the trainers' room.

Unable to shake a nagging groin injury, the Maple Leafs defenceman did not practise yesterday and will be out indefinitely.

"It's one of those things that has lingered over a period of time," Maple Leafs general manager/coach Pat Quinn said yesterday. "He was advised to take some time and rest it."

While it is uncertain how long Berard will be out, he definitely won't suit up for today's game against the Flyers. Berard didn't even make the trip to Philadelphia.

Judging by Quinn's comments, it also is unlikely Berard will play tomorrow night when the Leafs play host to the Edmonton Oilers at the Air Canada Centre.

Berard has one goal and nine assists in 21 games for the Leafs. The smooth-skating defenceman is second on the team with a plus-nine, trailing only Alexander Karpovtsev (plus-10).

The Leafs had contemplated calling up a replacement from their American Hockey League affiliate in St. John's. But they decided against it when fellow defenceman Danny Markov, who missed practice Wednesday with an undisclosed injury, was back on the ice yesterday and looked good.

The Leafs will miss Berard's ability to carry the puck out of his own end when they take on the Flyers, a team that thrives on intense forechecking.

"It's a big loss but we have some great defencemen here," Dimitry Yushkevich said. "We just have to do our jobs.

"When one of our key people is out of the lineup, it brings the team together. We know we have good defencemen on this team, so we'll step it up."

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