Center Danny Briere was absent again in last night’s victory over the Dallas Stars. Briere has missed the last six games with a strained groin and it’s unknown when the Flyers center will return.

“It’s frustrating because there’s not much improvement,” Briere said at the Skate Zone in Voorhees “After the first two steps, it hits me. There’s no power. I can’t start and stop – and that’s my game. I need to be quick and taking off and hitting holes, and right now I can’t do that…Only my body will tell me when I’m ready to go. It’s frustrating because I thought I’d be in the lineup last weekend. I want to play. I don’t think I’ve ever had an injury as frustrating as this one, where it’s taken this long.”

Given this news don’t expect to see Briere in the lineup tomorrow in Carolina. Surprisingly the Flyers have played well without Briere, winning their last five games and going 8-2-1 when he’s not in the lineup. Even so, Briere on the ice is still an upgrade over Josh Gratton, Jon Kalinski, or Darroll Powe.

There’s going to be no rush for Briere to return, so in his absence, look for Mike Richards to be on the first line along with Simon Gagne and Mike Knuble.