Who: Philadelphia Flyers (3-2) @ Pittsburgh Penguins (2-3) in Game 6 of the best of seven series
How to Watch: Locally broadcast on Sportsnet Pittsburgh and NBC Sports Philadelphia, nationally on TNT and truTV, streaming on HBO Max
Pens’ Path Ahead: The Penguins need to win tonight in order to extend the series to a winner-takes-all Game 7, which would take place Saturday in Pittsburgh at a time to be determined.
Opponent Track: The Flyers are looking to snap their losing streak after dropping two straight. The home team is still one win away from earning the chance to take on the Carolina Hurricanes in the second round.
Hidden Stat: Just 12 percent of NHL teams that have gone down 0-3 in a best-of-seven Stanley Cup playoff series have gone on to force a Game 6.
Series results of a best-of-7 series in Stanley Cup playoff history where a team took a 3-0 series lead: 🏒 131 won in 4 games🏒 58 won in 5 games🏒 16 won in 6 games🏒 6 won in Game 7🏒 4 lost the series pic.twitter.com/iZQ3Qqe5pD
Potential scratches: Matvei Michkov (?), Oliver Bonk (?), Helge Grans, David Jiricek, Garrett Wilson, Nikita Grebenkin, Oscar Eklind, Noah Juulsen, Hunter McDonald, Jacob Gaucher, Carl Grundstrom, Aleksei Kolosov, Carson Bjarnason
Injured Reserve: Rodrigo Abols (fractured ankle), Nikita Grebenkin (upper body)
Defenseman Emil Andrae, who missed time after suffering an injury in Game 1, returned to the third pairing in Game 5 in place of Noah Juulsen.
The Flyers scratched Matvei Michkov ahead of Game 5 in favor of Alex Bump, who celebrated his return to the lineup by scoring one of Philadelphia’s two goals.
If Michkov draws back into the lineup tonight, it sounds like it won’t be in place of Tyson Foerster, who has been held without a point this series. Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet said Tuesday the Flyers would “try to stick with” Foerster.
“It’s just not him; we’ve got some other guys there that we need a little bit more from,” Tocchet said Tuesday. “But it is tough, hitting the wall, to be able to play at that pace and all that sort of stuff, maybe he has hit the wall a little bit. But 24 hours or 36 hours off, reset your brain, all that stuff can do wonders for the guy.”
There could still be some changes coming to the lineup. Tocchet said the Flyers have been discussing potentially slotting 21-year-old Oliver Bonk, who has one game of regular-season experience at the NHL level, in for Game 6.
When asked if Pens’ ability to adjust to the Flyers’ defense in Games 4 and 5 had impacted his game plan going forward, Tocchet said his emphasis ahead of Game 6 would be not on changing his team’s structure but on encouraging players’ “determination” to get the puck.
“They’ve adjusted. I’ve got to give their staff and their players credit. But there’s some stuff there that we’re not doing, that we can expose them,” Tocchet said Tuesday about the Pens. “And I’m not going to get into that part, but there’s a lot of skating and wanting the puck. There’s got to be a little bit more want and determination, and you’ll get pucks.
“I don’t think, me personally, it’s X and O’s. I think it’s determination, on some of these players, to wanting that puck.”
Potential Scratches: Connor Clifton, Justin Brazeau, Kevin Hayes, Ryan Graves, Jack St. Ivany, Sergei Murashov
IR: Filip Hallander, Caleb Jones (season-ending shoulder surgery)
The Penguins canceled practice Tuesday, so the first look at any changes to the lineup will come before tonight’s game.
Elmer Soderblom’s goal on Monday seems like a good indication he’ll be back in the lineup for Game 6, which could mean Justin Brazeau will remain out.