Michael Del Zotto admitted that it was difficult to stay upbeat. The Flyers defenseman missed the final 28 games of last season plus the playoffs with a wrist injury.
Then in an Oct. 6 exhibition game at Madison Square Garden against his old New York Rangers team, Del Zotto, 26, injured his left knee in a collision.
Now in his third season with the Flyers, Del Zotto was sidelined until he returned Saturday in a 5-4 loss at Montreal.
"It's tough any time you have an injury, but when you have injuries back to back, it makes it that much more difficult," Del Zotto said Wednesday after the team's optional practice in Voorhees.