Dave Isaac

@davegisaac

ORLEANS, Mass. – Wayne Simmonds returned to practice Monday, giving hope that he may be in the team's opening night roster Wednesday against the Boston Bruins.

Simmonds, 26, had career highs in goals (29) and assists (31) last season on a line usually with Brayden Schenn and Vinny Lecavalier. This season he's set to be on a line with Matt Read and Sean Couturier.

That is, whenever he's healthy. He hadn't skated since last Tuesday's preseason game against the New York Rangers and wasn't in Sunday's practice, watching from the other side of the boards with a walking boot on his left foot.

Monday, he was a full participant in a practice that ran a little longer than an hour.

"Yeah, he looked good," coach Craig Berube said after Monday's practice. "He finished the whole practice, did some extra skating. We'll see tomorrow, but he looked fine for me."

Monday's practice is an encouraging sign that the Flyer could return against the Bruins. He took line rushes with Read and Couturier while Blair Jones, who replaced Simmonds in practices and the preseason finale, rotated in as an extra forward.

"I feel good," Simmonds said. "Obviously, I haven't skated in the last week. I had a few issues with my wind and did a little bag skate at the end. I think it will help out and get a skate in tomorrow."

In Monday's practice, Simmonds was wearing plastic shot-blocking shells over both skates.Later in the skate, when the Flyers practiced special teams, Simmonds took reps on the top power-play unit along with Lecavalier, Mark Streit, Claude Giroux and Jake Voracek.

"Obviously, there is going to be a reaction afterwards," Simmonds said. "Whether it is good or bad we will probably know in a few hours. I think first and foremost, I felt fine out there and got through the whole practice, which is a good sign."



Simmonds finished last Tuesday's contest in which he got hurt. It's unclear exactly when the injury occurred, but Simmonds blocked one shot in the game: a wristshot from defenseman Conor Allen with 5:43 remaining in the game.

"I don't know," said Simmonds, wearing no other protection on his foot after practice, just shower sandals. "I got hit with a few pucks that game. I can't really tell. I didn't feel anything until half hour or 45 minutes after the game. Things started to come up afterwards."