Snapshots: Flyers Injuries, Oilers, Celebrini
With their season coming to an abrupt end yesterday, injuries affecting the Philadelphia Flyers have begun to be revealed. Bill Meltzer of Flyers.NHL.com shared that Owen Tippett is dealing with a sports hernia, Cam York was playing through a fractured rib, and Christian Dvorak was battling a separated shoulder.
By yesterday’s Game 4, the Flyers were running with a patchwork lineup, including Carl Grundström and rookie Oliver Bonk, both of whom spent time in the AHL this year.
Tippett was unable to skate in any of the four second round games against the Hurricanes, with an ailment which was not revealed at the time. If he had limped into a game, a full tear would have been possible, which would greatly affect his health moving into next season. The 27-year-old tied his career high in goals this year (28) and played in all but one regular season contest, the best of his career to this point. He should be all set for next fall.
Meanwhile, both York and Dvorak played through their injuries. York skated in 24 minutes or more in each of the last three games against Carolina. The 25-year-old appeared hampered at times, but his overtime series winning goal over Pittsburgh was an unforgettable moment.
Finally, Dvorak came away with four assists, impressively not missing a single game despite his injury. It was a season to remember for the 30-year-old, setting a career high with 51 points in 80 games, and earning a five-year extension with the team.
Elsewhere across the league:
- The Edmonton Oilers face an off-season of changes after a disappointing first round exit, but as written by The Fourth Period, that may not include Connor Ingram, Jason Dickinson, and Connor Murphy, who are expected to explore being re-signed. Dickinson, 30, effectively replaced Adam Henrique as a third line center. Mostly a shutdown penalty killer, he did find the back of the net twice in the playoffs, capable of providing a scoring spark at times. He’d require a serious pay cut from his current $4.25MM to stay with the Oilers. Another former Blackhawk, the 33-year-old Murphy played top four minutes in Edmonton, starting 58% of his shifts in the defensive zone as a stay-at-home sidekick for Darnell Nurse, the duo anchoring the penalty kill. Finally, as far as depth goaltenders go, Ingram brought above average results at a .899 save percentage and 2.60 goals-against-average, but Edmonton must find a solution with Tristan Jarry in order to avoid leaning on the persevering 29-year-old Ingram so heavily again.
- Sharks 19-year-old superstar Macklin Celebrini has been named captain of Team Canada at the 2026 IIHF World Championships. It’s a passing of the torch of sorts, as he’ll lead alongside veteran assistants Ryan O’Reilly and John Tavares despite being the youngest skater on the team. Celebrini is no stranger to the international circuit, leading Canada in the World Juniors, and already a top line star at the highest stage, last February in Milan where he came away with a silver medal. A face of the future of Canada Hockey, the Vancouver native wasted no time, recording three points earlier today in a resounding 6-1 exhibition defeat of France.
Flyers’ Jett Luchanko, Oliver Bonk Make Stanley Cup Playoffs Debut
The Philadelphia Flyers have made a surprising move in an attempt to avoid a second round sweep at the hands of the Carolina Hurricanes. Rookies Jett Luchanko and Oliver Bonk made their Stanley Cup Playoff debut when the Flyers took the ice, playing over healthy scratches Matvei Michkov and Emil Andrae. Luchanko and Bonk now make 13 Flyers to play the first Stanley Cup Playoff game of their career in this postseason per NHL.com’s Adam Kimelman.
Philadelphia scratched Michkov in Game 5 of their first round win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. He has continued to underwhelm in four games back in the lineup since, still sat at just one point in the first eight playoff games of his NHL career. Luchanko will try to be the difference-maker in just his ninth NHL game. He began the season captaining the OHL’s Guelph Storm, then served as the two-way backbone to the all-out-offense of the Brantford Bulldogs after a mid-season trade. Luchanko ended the year with a combined 43 points in 38 games, a slight step down from the points-per-game pace he managed last year (56 points in 46 games) but still more than his 2023-24 season (74 points in 68 games). He has proved to be a tireless worker who can make a difference in the dirty areas of the ice – a knack that could make him a jammer in the Hurricanes’ breakouts.
Bonk played through his first season with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms this year. He had quiet results on both sides of the puck, finishing the year with 19 points and a minus-14 in 46 AHL games. It was an underwhelming introduction after a productive, two-way showing in three OHL seasons. Bonk curbed expectations when he scored one goal and one assist in the Flyers’ season finale and his NHL debut. He seemed to move with a bit more confidence on NHL ice and could stand as an X-factor puck-mover if he finds the same spark on playoff ice.
Whether they win or lose, the Flyers will face tough questions on the other side of the postseason. Michkov, the 2023 seventh-overall pick, has been benched twice in his first playoff run despite reaching 20 goals and 51 points in 81 games during the regular season. His 114 points in 161 games is the highest points-per-game from a U22 Flyers skater in the last 10 years. He has clear upside, though Philadelphia will have to find a way to bring it out – a task that could become even tougher if Luchanko can flex his might in the postseason.
Tippett Out Again Saturday, Abols Resumes Skating
- If the Flyers want to stave off elimination today against Carolina, they will have to do so without the services of one of their top wingers again. Jackie Spiegel of the Philadelphia Inquirer relays (Twitter link) that Owen Tippett has already been ruled out of the lineup. The 27-year-old has yet to play in this series due to an undisclosed injury. Tippett finished the regular season tied for third in team scoring with 51 points although he had a quiet first round against Pittsburgh with only a goal and an assist in six outings. Still, his absence has been felt over the first three games and will last at least one more contest.
- Flyers winger Rodrigo Abols has resumed skating as he works his way back from a fractured ankle sustained back in mid-January, notes NHL.com’s Adam Kimelman (Twitter link). The 30-year-old had locked down a regular role in Philadelphia’s lineup over the first half of the season, chipping in with 10 points and 49 hits in 42 games before being sidelined. At this point, he’s still likely a long way from returning but the fact that he’s back on the ice is a good sign in his recovery process.
Injury Notes: Cates, Dvorak, Tippett, Nikishin
The Philadelphia Flyers’ postseason hurdles just reached a new height. Down 2-0 as the series shifts back to Wells Fargo Center, head coach Rick Tocchet confirmed the worst-case scenario for his forward group: Noah Cates is out for the remainder of the series.
Cates, who hit career highs this season with 47 points and has been the team’s most reliable two-way presence, suffered a lower-body injury after taking a shot off the foot in Game 2. While he finished that game, he was seen in a walking boot on Wednesday, and the team has officially ruled him out for the duration of the second round.
Additional injury notes:
- The Anaheim Ducks receive a boost as Troy Terry is expected to return to the lineup for their series against Vegas. However, the blue line takes a hit as veteran Radko Gudas remains out with a lower-body injury. After battling recurring injuries throughout the season, Terry made his return in Game 1 against Vegas.
- Carolina Hurricanes high-profile rookie defenseman Alexander Nikishin has been cleared to play. After missing the start of the series due to a concussion sustained in the first round, he is an option for Game 3 and will likely slot in alongside Shayne Gostisbehere.
- The Flyers also noted forward Christian Dvorak is currently day-to-day and took a maintenance day on Wednesday, though he is expected to play in Game 3. Also, Owen Tippett, who has missed the first two games of the series, remains a game-time decision for Thursday. While he has returned to practice, his availability hinges on a final evaluation before puck drop.
Philadelphia Flyers Recall Jett Luchanko
The Philadelphia Flyers announced that top prospect Jett Luchanko has been recalled from his OHL team, the Brantford Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs recently lost in game seven of the OHL’s Eastern Conference Final to the Barrie Colts, ending their season. That has freed Luchanko to join the Flyers as a (likely) reserve player. The Flyers’ AHL affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, did not qualify for the postseason.
The Flyers have lost the first two games of their series against the Carolina Hurricanes, and a loss tomorrow would push them to the brink of elimination. As a result, it is highly unlikely Luchanko actually gets to dress for games on this recall, but there is nonetheless some value in him getting the chance to join the Flyers in the midst of their run.
The 19-year-old is one of Philadelphia’s very best prospects. He was selected No. 13 overall at the 2024 draft, and has made the Flyers’ main roster out of training camp in back-to-back seasons. Each year, Luchanko has been reassigned back to junior hockey after playing in four NHL games.
Luchanko didn’t have the best season in the OHL this year, scoring 50 points in 53 combined regular-season and playoff contests across two different OHL teams. It’s not always the best sign for such a highly-drafted forward prospect to be scoring at below a point-per-game rate in the CHL a full two years after he was drafted, but Luchanko’s game has always been about more than just scoring. Elite Prospects, who ranked Luchanko as the No. 30 prospect in the NHL entering the season, called the forward a “mature defensive player” and “high-floor prospect.”
Now, as his junior season has come to a close, Luchanko will get the chance to soak in as much as he can by joining the Flyers for their playoff run.
Noah Cates Suffers Injury, Owen Tippett Remains Out
Philadelphia Flyers center Noah Cates‘ availability for game three against the Carolina Hurricanes appears to be in question after he appeared to suffer a foot injury in game two. Mike Sielski of the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Cates was seen after game two “trundled on a cart down a hallway” and “holding a walking boot that would have fit his right foot.” The Flyers did not have an official update on Cates’ status.
If Cates is indeed unavailable for the Flyers’ next game, which is on Thursday, it would represent a significant blow to the team’s hopes of getting back on their feet in their second-round series. The Flyers put up a valiant effort against Carolina yesterday but fell in overtime, and risk being pushed to the brink of elimination with a loss Thursday. Cates, 27, isn’t a star in Philadelphia but he still plays a key role in head coach Rick Tocchet’s lineup. He last slotted in as the No. 2 center between Tyson Foerster and Matvei Michkov, and he plays on both sides of special teams. He has four points in eight playoff games, and scored a career-high 18 goals and 47 points in the regular season.
- Flyers winger Owen Tippett didn’t play in game two as he remains sidelined with an undisclosed injury. His status is considered day-to-day, so it will be important to track his availability for game three given the importance of the game to the Flyers’ hopes to win the series. The speedy 27-year-old tied a career-high with 28 goals in the regular season and neared his career-high with 51 points.
Travis Sanheim Injured In Game 1
- The Philadelphia Flyers No. 1 defenseman Travis Sanheim was knocked out of game one against the Carolina Hurricanes with an apparent lower-body injury. Per NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Jordan Hall, Sanheim “was banged up after taking a hit into the side boards” during the game. The Athletic’s Kevin Kurz reported that the media requested to speak with Sanheim post-game but he was not made available, something that is not out of the ordinary when a player’s availability is newly in question. Sanheim has averaged nearly 26 minutes per night in the playoffs so far, meaning his health is of massive importance to the Flyers’ hopes of pulling off a second consecutive upset series win.
Evening Notes: Hronek, Tippett, Manson, Kiviranta
Vancouver Canucks defenseman Filip Hronek was injured in pre-tournament action with Team Czechia’s World Championship roster per Rick Dhaliwal of CHEK News. Dhaliwal adds that Hronek “should be okay soon”, likely a sign that the top Czech defender won’t miss tournament action.
Hronek has carved out an important role on Czechia’s men’s national team. He scored five assists in five games at the 2026 Winter Olympics and six points in eight games at the 2025 World Championship. The latter tournament was Hronek’s first appearance on Czechia’s national roster since the 2022 World Championship, where he scored two points in 10 games. That quiet showing was outdone by his 15 points in 17 games between the 2019 and 2021 World Championships. More than his scoring, Hronek offers a physical, puck-moving presence that helps the Czech push their aggressive forecheck. He would leave an irreplaceable hole on the top-pair if he missed tournament games.
Other notes from around the hockey world:
- Philadelphia Flyers forward Owen Tippett has been announced as out day-to-day with an undisclosed injury. He was doubtful to play in Game 1 of the second round after practice per NBCS’ Jordan Hall. A chance to rest could be timely for Tippett, who racked up two points in six games of the first round. It was a lackluster series for the scoring winger, after he tied his career-high with 23 goals and totaled 51 points in 81 games this season. He fills an important, shooter role in the Flyers offense and could leave a hole in the top-six. Tippett’s absence will secure rookie Alex Bump’s spot in the lineup. Bump scored nine points in the first 17 games of his NHL career this season. He also has one goal in two playoff appearances. He may be one of only a few black aces who could try to fill in for Tippett’s scoring impact.
- The Colorado Avalanche are also still nursing injuries. Defenseman Josh Manson and forward Joel Kiviranta are both still out day-to-day, head coach Jared Bednar told Bailey Curtis of DNVR Avalanche. Manson sat out of Game 4 against the Los Angeles Kings and hasn’t been able to heal up in six days since. He scored two points in the first three games of the series, continuing to fill an important, top-four role on Colorado’s defense. Kiviranta sat out of both Game 3 and 4, limiting him to no scoring and five hits in the first two games of the series. He totaled nine points in 51 games this season, rotaitng in-and-out of the team’s fourth line. Manson will immediately step back into the lineup when he’s back at full health, while Kiviranta will compete with Logan O’Connor and Parker Kelly for depth minutes.
Flyers Considering Oliver Bonk For Lineup
Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Alexander Nikishin skated in a non-contact jersey this morning, his first time hitting the ice since he suffered a concussion against the Ottawa Senators. The move indicates that Nikishin is progressing closer to a return to the ice in time for the start of the team’s second-round series, which will either be against the Pittsburgh Penguins or Philadelphia Flyers. Nikishin played on the left side of Carolina’s third pairing for the team’s first-round sweep of the Senators, also handling some power play duties.
- The Flyers have considered inserting rookie defenseman Oliver Bonk into their lineup for game six against the Penguins, head coach Rick Tocchet told the media yesterday. (Per Kevin Kurz of The Athletic.) Although Bonk skated with the expected scratches at today’s morning skate, Tocchet said yesterday that “it is in the discussion to maybe put him in.” The 21-year-old has just one NHL game on his résumé, though he does have extensive playoff experience from his days in junior hockey with the London Knights. If they elect to dress Bonk, the Flyers could be looking for one of their top defensive prospects to provide them with a spark, a spark similar to the ones provided by rookies Porter Martone, Denver Barkey, and most recently Alex Bump.
Flyers Scratch Matvei Michkov, Noah Juulsen
A notable storyline has emerged this evening as the Philadelphia Flyers have scratched Matvei Michkov in Game 5 against the Penguins, noted by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. Alex Bump will take his place, jumping in on the third line.
The news confirms yesterday’s suspicions that the polarizing young star would sit. In last Saturday’s loss, where the Flyers failed to complete the sweep, only Luke Glendening and Garnet Hathaway played less than Michkov’s 11:18 among forwards, the pair of veterans being pure fourth line role players.
Hardly focused on any trade talk just yet however, tonight presents a historic opportunity for the Flyers. They have the chance to complete a resounding defeat of their in-state rivals, with an uncertain future regarding their legendary trio of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang. Depending on how things go, Michkov could continue to find himself the odd man out.
- Also in Philadelphia, although a bit less eyebrow-raising, defenseman Noah Juulsen will join Michkov as a healthy scratch, replaced by Emil Andrae, reported by Charlie O’Connor of PHLY Sports. The 29-year-old played in each of the Flyers’ last three games, making an impact with two assists in Game 3, but he played just 8:55 last Saturday, fewest of any skater on the team by a clear margin. The rotation between both defenders is hardly new this year, as they’ve posted similar stats, the differentiator being that they’re opposite handed. The right-handed Juulsen has a 45.6% corsi for at five-on-five this year, starting nearly 58% of his shifts on the attack, by far a career high. It’s much the same for Andrae, who could again have a shorter leash in such a consequential game.