"It's a different story," Giroux said. "I really didn't feel good the last time. I was kind of dizzy and stuff. Today I felt good. I understand it's just a process and we've got to be patient with this."
Giroux knows firsthand, from two teammates in the last week alone, that his symptoms will ebb and flow over time. Just last Wednesday, Brayden Schenn - also out indefinitely with a concussion - skated in a full practice in Montreal.
Flyers GM Paul Holmgren said there is no change in Schenn's status, but he must have suffered a setback. He has not skated since Wednesday and is not even on this week's three-game trip to Denver, Dallas and the New York Rangers.
Giroux pointed to Sidney Crosby for further proof, as if it were needed, since Crosby missed 68 straight games before returning on Nov. 21. The game's best player lasted just eight games before symptoms reappeared after a collision with a teammate.
"Even with Crosby, you see what happened," Giroux said. "You want to be careful and you want to make sure that when you come back, you're 100 percent.
"I think it's early in the season to jump when you're not feeling 100 percent. I want to play and I want to help the team, but I've got to just to be patient."
Yesterday's call-up of center Ben Holmstrom, which subsequently moved Giroux to the injured reserve retroactive to Dec. 10, tells us how slow the Flyers are willing to take this process. The injured reserve only requires a player to miss at least 7 days. Tonight in Denver will be Giroux' fourth straight game out of the lineup.
