When retired defenseman Kimmo Timonen is honored before Wednesday's game against Chicago at the Wells Fargo Center, the players on the Flyers bench can be excused if they if they nearly pound holes in the sideboards with their heartfelt stick-tap salute.
Timonen, a longtime Flyers defenseman before being dealt to Chicago last February and winning his first Stanley Cup, was not only a terrific player and leader, but he defined perseverance during an exceptional 16-year career.
"He played through so many injuries and was just a warrior out there," winger Matt Read said after Tuesday's optional practice in Voorhees.