VOORHEES, N.J. – The St. Louis Blues acquired veteran defenseman Eric Weinrich from the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday in a move aimed at helping to fill the void caused by season-ending injuries to two key defensemen.

In exchange, the Flyers will get a fifth-round pick in the 2004 draft.

Weinrich, a 16-year veteran in his third season with the Flyers, scored two goals and had seven assists in 54 games this season. He had 32 penalty minutes and was tied for fourth on the Flyers with a plus-11 rating. He was averaging 20:48 of ice time per game.

“I’m a little bit shocked, but I had a great time here,” said Weinrich, a Gardiner native and former University of Maine All-American.

Weinrich, 37, has 67 career goals and 294 assists. He played in his 1,000th career NHL game last season. He is expected to join the Blues when they host Colorado on Thursday.

The Blues have lost two of their to top three defensemen for the season with injuries to Al MacInnis and Barret Jackman. After a strong start, the Blues have won just six of their past 25 games and are struggling to earn their 25th consecutive playoff berth.

Weinrich was made expendable with a glut of defensemen in Philadelphia, including the injured Jim Vandermeer, Dennis Seidenberg and Eric Desjardins.

The Flyers have added Mattias Timander and Danny Markov in trades over the last month.

The Flyers expect Desjardins, out with a broken right forearm, back in four to six weeks. Seidenberg will miss another two months with a broken left leg, and Vandermeer has been out with a separated right shoulder, but has been cleared to play.

“We’re able to get by with the guys we have,” assistant general manager Paul Holmgren said.

The Flyers also acquired three-time All-Star goalie Sean Burke and two forwards from the Phoenix Coyotes later on Monday for promising young center Mike Comrie, who was acquired in December from Edmonton, where he was sitting out because of a bitter contract dispute.

The Flyers were in need of help in goal with Jeff Hackett announcing his retirement Monday, after being sidelined with vertigo, and Robert Esche out with a sprained left knee.

The Flyers are 2-0 under 23-year-old rookie goalie Antero Niittymaki, who will likely start Tuesday against New Jersey.

Tortorella agrees to extension

TAMPA, Fla. – General manager Jay Feaster and coach John Tortorella agreed to multiyear contract extensions with the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday.

Tampa Bay won its first division title last season. The Lightning, in just their second postseason appearance, beat Washington in the opening round before losing to New Jersey in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Tortorella played three years of hockey at the University of Maine with younger brother Jim, the current Colby College men’s hockey coach.