Oliver Bonk to debut? Matvei Michkov back in? Flyers’ potential Game 6 lineup changes

PITTSBURGH — It’s already occurred a number of occasions this season for the Philadelphia Flyers. Fresh, younger legs enter the lineup and instantly make an influence.

It was Denver Barkey at first, arriving at Madison Square Garden on Dec. 20 and making an instant fan out of coach Rick Tocchet when he stood out in opposition to the New York Rangers. Barkey by no means returned to the AHL.

Porter Martone’s seamless integration into the lineup, beginning on April 1gave the Flyers an added offensive jolt that they in all probability wanted to sneak into the playoffs.

In Game 5 on Monday in Pittsburgh, Alex Bump, a wholesome scratch within the first 4 video games of the sequence, was arguably the Flyers’ simplest ahead, with a second-period objective and 4 pictures. From his first shift, when he carried the puck into the offensive zone and unleashed a tough wrist shot on internet a little bit greater than a minute into the sport, Bump was noticeable in the best way he was shifting all around the ice.

Another younger prospect might get his probability in Game 6, when the Flyers attempt for a 3rd time to shut out the Pittsburgh Penguins at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

Oliver Bonk, the twenty second decide within the 2023 draft, would be the most overshadowed former first-round decide in current Flyers historical past. He’s not Matvei Michkov, who was 15 spots increased that 12 months. He’s not Martone, who already seems to be like a future star. He’s not even Jett Luchanko, who made the Flyers’ opening night time roster every of the previous two seasons.

But Bonk reminded everybody in Philadelphia of his potential in his NHL debut. He was excellent within the Flyers’ season finale, a 4-2 win over the Montreal Canadiens, posting a objective and an help in 16:28 of ice time. Yes, it was a meaningless sport for the Flyers, who had clinched a playoff spot someday earlier. But it wasn’t for Montreal, which was nonetheless attempting to safe residence ice within the first spherical and dressed its full NHL lineup.

“I’m just trying to get a little bit better every single day,” Bonk, who posted six targets and 13 assists in 46 video games for the AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms, mentioned after the sport. “There’s still a lot to do.”

Tocchet made one defensive change to his lineup forward of Game 5, inserting Emil Andrae for Noah Juulsen. He did not do a lot. In 11 minutes, Andrae had no pictures and only one try, which was blocked. He additionally took a third-period tripping minor, getting his stick within the skates of the Penguins’ Evgeni Malkin.

Asked on Tuesday whether or not Bonk could be an choice for Game 6, presumably over Andrae, Tocchet acknowledged that the teaching workers was contemplating it.

“I’m not going to lie to you, it is in the discussion to maybe put him in,” Tocchet mentioned. “That’s something that we’re going to spend some time here at the rink and figure that out. … Sometimes when you put a kid like that in when they don’t even think about it, that’s a good thing.”

Bump proved that together with his efficiency in Game 5. We’ll see if Tocchet makes any changes to his ahead group for Game 6, together with, after all, whether Michkov makes his return. But there’s just about no probability that Bump will come out after his efficiency in his playoff debut.

If his play wasn’t sufficient, Bump made it fairly clear after the sport that he would not lack confidence to compete in these kinds of high-pressure conditions.

(*6*) Bump mentioned. “I love it, actually. Just tried to play my game (and) do what I do best.”

Travis Sanheim was impressed.

“I thought he had a ton of energy, especially early on,” Sanheim mentioned. “A couple hits on the forecheck and a great play on his goal. It’s a tough spot to come in the middle of a series. I thought he played well.”

Tyson Foerster may also apparently stay within the lineup, despite the fact that he is additionally had a troublesome time late, nonetheless on the lookout for his first level. Foerster had three targets in his first 4 video games after coming back from shoulder surgical procedure on April 2, however has only one help in his final 9 mixed regular-season and playoff video games.

“We’re trying to stick with him,” Tocchet mentioned. “It’s just not him, we’ve got some other guys we need a little bit more from. But it is tough, hitting a wall, to be able to play at that pace, and all that sort of stuff.

“Maybe he is hit the wall a little bit bit, however 24 or 36 hours off, reset your mind, can do wonders for a man. Usually guys like that discover their manner. We’re not giving up on Tyson, he is too good a hockey participant.”

That begs the question: if Michkov returns, where might he play?

Tocchet wasn’t asked about Michkov on Tuesday, so there likely won’t be any news on that front until Wednesday morning when the team gathers for their morning skate. But one potential solution might be to break up the fourth line, which has slowed a bit the past two games after setting the tone earlier in the series.

Flyers captain Sean Couturier took just four faceoffs in Game 5, after taking 41 in Games 1-4 combined (and winning a whopping 30 of them). Instead, Luke Glendening took the bulk of them, going 7-for-12. Neither of those two is likely to sit.

But Garnet Hathaway has taken four minor penalties in the last two games, two of which left the Flyers short-handed, and one of the coincidental variety with Erik Karlsson that opened up the ice and led to Kris Letang’s game-winner in the third period of Game 4.

Might it make sense to drop Foerster down to the fourth line with Couturier and Glendening, while putting Michkov back alongside Noah Cates, with Bump on the left? That was a line that had some regular-season success. In nearly 40 minutes together, they were on for three goals at five-on-five and just one against, with an expected goals share of 60.7 percent, according to Natural Stat Trick.

Regardless of what Tocchet decides, the Flyers will have to collectively up their intensity level and execution to avoid sending the series back to Pittsburgh for a decisive Game 7 on Saturday. He’s hopeful they’re learning some lessons along the way in what is still the first taste of the Stanley Cup playoffs for most of them.

“To get experience, you have to go through things,” Tocchet said. “I do know it is a quick window of expertise, however I believe you may study and get extra expertise, even within the final two video games. They’ve been shut video games, it is simply that the Penguins have performed higher than us in these two video games.”