PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania (AFP) - The Philadelphia Flyers' National Hockey League title hopes took a blow with the news that defenseman Kimmo Timonen will be out indefinitely with a foot injury.

Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren announced the news Thursday, a day before the Flyers were to begin their Eastern Conference finals series against the Pittsburgh Penguins for a berth in the Stanley Cup Finals.

Timonen, who earned All-Star honors in his first season with Philadelphia, was hit in his left foot with a shot by Montreal Canadiens defenseman Andrei Markov in game four of the previous round.

The blast created a blood clot on the front of his foot near the area where Timonen ties the laces of his skate.

"It's been getting sorer and sorer every day," Timonen told the Philadelphia Inquirer. "We thought we'd get it checked out because it did not get better, and they found a blood clot. ... This has been an awful day for me."

After an MRI failed to reveal anything, Timonen had the foot examined at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania on Wednesday by vascular surgeon Ronald M. Fairman, who discovered the clot.

The Inquirer also reported that Timonen will miss the rest of the Stanley Cup playoffs with the injury.

Holmgren, however, did not rule out a possible return should the team advance to the Stanley Cup Finals.

"There is some hope that in a week's time, there might be some improvement," Holmgren said. "But we will have to see how that goes. ... I think (returning) might be more of Kimmo's hope more than anything, which is admirable."

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