ESPN NHL

Now that Philadelphia is left with a tandem of AHL netminders, Flyers general manager Bob Clarke will have to shift his exploratory discussions regarding available netminders into high gear and bring in some NHL-caliber reinforcements.

No. 1 goalie Robert Esche left Monday night's 2-1 loss to Tampa Bay early in the second period with what the club is calling a left knee sprain after a collision in the crease with teammate Simon Gagne, who dove while trying to stop the Lightning's Cory Stillman on a breakaway.

No. 2 goalie Jeff Hackett (10-10-6, 2.39 goals-against average, .905 save percentage) has been sidelined since mid-January with feelings of light-headedness and fatigue and has no return date scheduled, although he did practice Sunday for the first time in more than two weeks.

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