Peter Forsberg

Philadelphia Flyers centre Peter Forsberg underwent a three-hour operation on his right ankle Monday to have torn ligaments repaired and several bones realigned.

The surgery, performed by Dr. Robert Anderson in Charlotte, N.C., is the first of two scheduled for Forsberg. He will have the same condition repaired in his left ankle in about six weeks and is expected to be sidelined until about January.

"It went very well, actually," Flyers head trainer Jim McCrossin said. "Obviously Peter had to have some bones shifted in his foot to get proper alignment, and that went very well. He had the ligaments that he tore - that were lax - strengthened."

Forsberg has had the ankle condition for about seven years. The Flyers say the surgery should also make him less prone to groin and abdominal strains. Most of the 22 games he missed last season were chalked up to groin-related injuries.

11:07 PM - 5/15/2006