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PHILADELPHIA (AP) Philadelphia Flyers goalie Brian Elliott had abdominal surgery on Tuesday and will be out 5 to 6 weeks, general manager Ron Hextall said.

Elliott re-aggravated an abdominal injury that cost him four games earlier this month in Saturday's 4-3 shootout victory over Arizona.

In 41 games this season, Elliott has posted a 21-11-7 mark with a 2.72 goals-against average and .908 save percentage.

Flyers backup goalie Michal Neuvirth started Tuesday night's game against the New Jersey Devils, two days after he made 38 saves in a 4-1 victory at Las Vegas.

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Philadelphia recalled Alex Lyon from Lehigh Valley of the AHL prior to Sunday's game to serve as Neuvirth's backup.

Hextall was noncommittal as to whether he would pursue a replacement for Elliott before the Feb. 26 trade deadline.

The Flyers began Tuesday in sixth place in a tightly bunched playoff race in the Eastern Conference.