Sat May 17 16:37:40 2008

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Flyers D Timonen and Coburn might play Game 5

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Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - The Philadelphia Flyers might get two of their key blueliners back for Sunday's Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals against Pittsburgh as Kimmo Timonen and Braydon Coburn both took part in Saturday's practice.

Timonen has been out for the entire Eastern Conference finals after being diagnosed with a blood clot in his left ankle.

He blocked a shot during Game 4 of the club's semifinal series against the Montreal Canadiens, and played through pain in the clinching Game 5 last Saturday.

Timonen was originally expected to miss at least the whole of the Conference finals.

However, he stated on Saturday that he feels much better and hopes to play on Sunday.

"I think I'm ready to go," said Timonen. "Now it's up to coaches. I haven't talked to John (Stevens) yet, but personally, I'm ready to go tomorrow. I felt pretty good today, and that's why I'm pretty confident to say I'm ready to go tomorrow."

Coburn has been out since getting hit in the face with a puck just 1:51 into Game 2.

A blast from the point in Philadelphia's end ramped off the stick of Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin and into the left side of Coburn's head.

The Flyers defenseman went down immediately with his gloves in front of his face, and a few small puddles of blood gathered on the ice. Coburn, though, was able to leave the ice under his own power and did not return. He received more than 50 stitches to close the wound.

While he did not break any bones, the injury left the eye severely swollen and kept him from playing the past two games.

He stated on Saturday that he feels he should be able to play on Sunday.

"Yeah, I think there's a good chance," said Coburn. "Everything felt pretty good. It felt like I've been off the ice for a couple of days and wearing the visor is a little bit of an adjustment as well. But it's something I'm going to have to do right now."

Philadelphia trails the best-of-seven series, 3-1, after dropping the first three games and staving off elimination in Game 4 with a 4-2 win.

Game 5 is set for Sunday afternoon in Pittsburgh.