Flyers goaltender Robert Esche received a double dose of good news Tuesday after undergoing hip surgery at St. Margaret's Hospital in Pittsburgh.

Not only was he pain-free for the first time in months; his rehabilitation schedule should allow him to play for Team USA in the World Cup of Hockey tournament in late August and early September.

During the 2-hour, 30-minute surgery, Dr. Mark Thillipone repaired a torn labrum, which is the rim of cartilage that surrounds the hip socket. Esche rode a stationary bike for 20 minutes shortly after the surgery and said he felt "no pain, no discomfort, no nothing."

When the Flyers announced Esche would require hip surgery, it was stated that he would likely miss the chance to represent his country in the World Cup, where he has a good chance at being Team USA's starting netminder. The World Cup begins Aug. 30 and ends Sept. 14.

"(Thillipone) told me he didn't see the World Cup as even being close to a problem," said Esche, a 26-year-old native of Whitesboro, N.Y. "He thought I'd reach that (date) with no problem and that I could be out on the ice as early as the middle of July if I continue progressing."

According to Flyers physician Peter DeLuca, Esche will walk on crutches for a week or two, but he is cleared to begin running in a pool by the end of this week. He will begin therapy under the direction of Flyers strength and conditioning coach Jim McCrossin, who will join Esche in upstate New York to begin therapy.

Esche went 21-11-7 this season with a 2.04 GAA, securing the role as the Flyers starter. He followed with a strong playoff run, going 11-7 before falling one win short of going to the Stanley Cup finals. Through it all, he played with pain in his left hip.

"Going down to Pittsburgh it was really sore," he said. "It was really achy and painful all year long. But since the surgery, I've had no painkillers and it feels great."

Reach Chuck Gormley at cgormley@courierpostonline.com