Flyers goaltender Carter Hart exits with 'mid-body' injury

PHILADELPHIA --Flyers goalie Carter Hart left Wednesday night's 5-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres midway through the first period with what the club called a "mid-body injury."

Hart, who was 4-3 with a 2.30 goals-against average in seven previous starts as Philadelphia's primary goaltender, appeared to be in discomfort after a scramble in front of the net seven minutes into a tie game with Sabres forward Kyle Okposo.

More than two minutes later, after Brandon Biro scored Buffalo's second goal on a sliding puck in the crease, a member of the Flyers' athletic training staff came out and escorted Hart off the ice under his own power.

Flyers coach John Tortorella said postgame there was no update on Hart's condition.

Sam Ersson replaced Hart in net for the Flyers.

Ersson, who has struggled in three games now, would likely have to be the starter if Hart is out long term.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.