Vigneault just updated the injury status.

Rode in the elevator with Barzal, says he's fine. Good news.

No, update on Couturier though. Still being evaluated 14 hours after injury.
- PLindbergh31

The 14 hours after an injury scenario doesnt surprise me if it's something major.
When I ruptured my ACL and MCL the ER basically said you arent getting an MRI or anything done on this for at least 48 hours due to swelling so you just arent going to have any info for a few days.

Andy & Rono 📊
@HockeyStatsCZ
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Be fair, Islanders have been better team in the series against Flyers. But just imagine if Flyers scratch players like Thompson, Hagg, Braun, Grant and use players how Gostisbehere, JVR, Frost, Laughton in all playoffs. They would be much better. AV is a big problem for Philly.
- login

Birds of a feather flock together.

But if Clutterbuck goes hard to the net to which he has a pretty clear lane, and whacks away and gets it in and Brassard stays behind the goal and Hagg just keeps guarding the empty backend, I am sure you would have pilloried him for not making the right read.

I have no doubt those guys practiced that play. Brassard makes his rush as soon as Clutterbuck mysteriously turns his butt towards the goal instead of taking it hard to net.

My opinion alone of blame apportioning:

Myers:40%
Thompson 25%
Hart 20%
Hagg 15%
- PT21

A player going back door when a puck is rushed towards the net is a very common play in hockey. Players have been doing that since they were in pee-wee hockey.

Haag is the only player on the play defending who made little to no effort.

The 14 hours after an injury scenario doesnt surprise me if it's something major.
When I ruptured my ACL and MCL the ER basically said you arent getting an MRI or anything done on this for at least 48 hours due to swelling so you just arent going to have any info for a few days.
- opeth_pa

So if you can't MRI the injury for 48 hours, he's out for the series most likely. If he's out long term, what would be the formula for beating the Lightning without him?

From the Athletic:

So if you can't MRI the injury for 48 hours, he's out for the series most likely. If he's out long term, what would be the formula for beating the Lightning without him?
- PLindbergh31

I truly hope the Flyers are not currently worried about the formula for beating the lighting considering they have to win the next 2 games for that to even happen.

Also from The Athletic

But Couturier won’t be easily replaced. After a stellar Game 4, he was having another monster game (82.41 percent Corsi, 87.06 percent expected goals for, both team-highs) at even strength before he went down, and he’s now looked like the Selke Trophy favorite he is in three of the five games in the series. He’s the Flyers’ best player, and it’s tough to see them overcoming his absence if he’s forced out for an extended period.

Of course, there’s no guarantee he will miss time. Couturier famously missed just one game in the 2018 playoffs after tearing an MCL in a practice-day collision with Radko Gudas, and then scored a hat trick against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 6 on one leg. This is one tough customer. Presumably, if there’s any way he can go on Thursday, he will. If he can’t, however, the Flyers are left with few good options. They could move Giroux back to center and replace him with a winger not currently in the lineup. They could bump everyone up and bring back Connor Bunnaman into the lineup to play 4C. They could even go with the high-risk, high-upside option of introducing Morgan Frost, if they think Couturier’s absence is too damaging to play it safe in response.

That said, I wouldn’t hold your breath for a Frost sighting; he hasn’t appeared in a single game in the bubble and didn’t exactly light the world on fire in Phase 3 training camp. A more plausible move could be the return of Michael Raffl, if he’s healthy enough to go, or even the dramatic re-emergence of Oskar Lindblom, whom Vigneault said Tuesday was just “a few days away” from potentially appearing in a game. Whether that was wishful thinking or a tease of a heartwarming moment soon to come remains to be seen.

Birds of a feather flock together.
- MJL

AV is a God, cant do no wrong.

Is he making a mistake not playing ghost in your opinion? yes or no?

Also from The Athletic

But Couturier won’t be easily replaced. After a stellar Game 4, he was having another monster game (82.41 percent Corsi, 87.06 percent expected goals for, both team-highs) at even strength before he went down, and he’s now looked like the Selke Trophy favorite he is in three of the five games in the series. He’s the Flyers’ best player, and it’s tough to see them overcoming his absence if he’s forced out for an extended period.

Of course, there’s no guarantee he will miss time. Couturier famously missed just one game in the 2018 playoffs after tearing an MCL in a practice-day collision with Radko Gudas, and then scored a hat trick against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 6 on one leg. This is one tough customer. Presumably, if there’s any way he can go on Thursday, he will. If he can’t, however, the Flyers are left with few good options. They could move Giroux back to center and replace him with a winger not currently in the lineup. They could bump everyone up and bring back Connor Bunnaman into the lineup to play 4C. They could even go with the high-risk, high-upside option of introducing Morgan Frost, if they think Couturier’s absence is too damaging to play it safe in response.

That said, I wouldn’t hold your breath for a Frost sighting; he hasn’t appeared in a single game in the bubble and didn’t exactly light the world on fire in Phase 3 training camp. A more plausible move could be the return of Michael Raffl, if he’s healthy enough to go, or even the dramatic re-emergence of Oskar Lindblom, whom Vigneault said Tuesday was just “a few days away” from potentially appearing in a game. Whether that was wishful thinking or a tease of a heartwarming moment soon to come remains to be seen.
- PT21

I'd like to see a 4th line of Bunnaman, Thompson, and Grant. Probably not as much as the Islanders would though.

If Couturier is out tomorrow and he's replaced by Bunnaman don't waste your time turning the set on.

Any word on if DOPS looking at Pelech hit? Point of contact was head. And if you say well that’s cuz Farabee is small, that didn’t apply for Niskanen in MTL series.

Edit. NVM

https://twitter.com/billm.../1301189561222135808?s=21

AV is a God, cant do no wrong.

Is he making a mistake not playing ghost in your opinion? yes or no?
- login

Try again.

Try again.
- MJL

answer the question.

answer the question.
- login

Nope.

time for giroux to step it up and drill one of the isles star players

Nope.
- MJL

if your happy and you know it clap your hands.

He took a face off end of second period after the collision and to me looked like he was having a problem skating. he may have finished the shift but wasn’t back after that. So he tried it and couldn’t go. Not sure how much you can determine from that. I’m sure he’ll get an mri and then know for certain.
- Marc D

He played through something similar against the pens two years ago. Don’t need him to do that again. Hope it’s just a tweak.

time for giroux to step it up and drill one of the isles star players
- 2Real

Drilled Barzal in the eye with his stick. Barzy front and center for game 6. Ready to roll, tip top, top notch.

Jake Allen traded to the Canadiens. Expensive backup?
- mickel25

good deal for the blues really. Not sure what montreals angle is on this deal.

Drilled Barzal in the eye with his stick. Barzy front and center for game 6. Ready to roll, tip top, top notch.
- PLindbergh31

nah that was just a tap should have taken him out of the series

time for giroux to step it up and drill one of the isles star players
- 2Real

I was going to suggest Hagg but he'd take himself completely out of position to do it so....

I was going to suggest Hagg but he'd take himself completely out of position to do it so....
- shekkie

someone needs to step it up and show some leadership

So the options to replace Couturier would be Raffl, Frost, and Lindblom.

I think if Raffl is ready he would be the way to go. He's a responsible defensive player who is versatile to move up and down the lineup. I think he would be the safe choice.

Lindblom is a true inspiration, kicking cancer in the teeth is such a wonderful thing. What courage and heart this kid has. I don't think it would be fair to put him in a playoff elimination game after not playing since early December. He's a heck of a player and I'm looking forward to seeing him play next season after the benefit of a full training camp.

Frost gives you some offensive upside, and creative playmaking, seems obvious that Vigneault doesn't trust him as he hasn't dressed for a playoff game as of yet despite healthy scratches and injuries.

i would rather have the upside and yes possible mistakes from frost over seeing the same bland non contributions from some. I think the reward is worth it as his skill may help more is all
- login

I am ok with putting Frost between Jake and G is Coots is hurt. Not playing I understand but JVR was out for a while and now he is in, so it can work.

I wanna say that I like this year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs with back to backs. I like the idea of forcing teams to play their back ups.

So the options to replace Couturier would be Raffl, Frost, and Lindblom.

I think if Raffl is ready he would be the way to go. He's a responsible defensive player who is versatile to move up and down the lineup. I think he would be the safe choice.

Lindblom is a true inspiration, kicking cancer in the teeth is such a wonderful thing. What courage and heart this kid has. I don't think it would be fair to put him in a playoff elimination game after not playing since early December. He's a heck of a player and I'm looking forward to seeing him play next season after the benefit of a full training camp.

Frost gives you some offensive upside, and creative playmaking, seems obvious that Vigneault doesn't trust him as he hasn't dressed for a playoff game as of yet despite healthy scratches and injuries.
- PLindbergh31

They said he hasn’t been taking the pregame skates. So assumption is he is hurt. If coots is out guessing bunnaman may be back in.

Or they go with 7 d men. Giving ghost offensive zone starts.