Philadelphia Flyers All-Star defenseman Kimmo Timonen will likely miss the Eastern Conference finals against the Pittsburgh Penguins because of a blood clot in his left ankle.

Philadelphia general manager Paul Holmgren said Timonen was hit by a shot by Montreal's Andrei Markov late in Game 4 of Philadelphia's second-round victory over the Canadiens. Timonen had an MRI exam Wednesday that didn't show a clot, but a vascular surgeon found a small one Thursday.

"We have to view this that he's not a player for us in the series, and march on," Holmgren said Thursday night. The Flyers open their series at Pittsburgh tonight.

The nine-year veteran discovered the severity of the injury after a hospital visit Thursday morning. Timonen said the doctor told him if the clot improves in the next two weeks, there would be a small chance he could play again this season. Still, Timonen knows a return to the lineup is unlikely.

"It's the most disappointing thing in my hockey life, for sure," he said.

RAY SUES NHLPA AGAIN: Former Buffalo Sabres enforcer Rob Ray is suing the NHL Players' Association for a second time over money owed him during the NHL lockout, accusing the union of deceiving him into settling his initial suit two years ago.

Ray is seeking $2 million in punitive damages and back pay in a suit filed in state Supreme Court in Buffalo, N.Y., in January.

The NHLPA, in legal documents submitted in April, has asked to have the suit dismissed. The union denies Ray's allegations, saying he was not deceived but signed a waiver agreeing not to receive any more money or take further legal action upon settling his first lawsuit in September 2005.