- Michkov took line rushes with extra forwards at Sunday’s practice
- Rookie Alex Bump skated next to Cates and Foerster, in line for his playoff debut
- Read below for Tocchet’s reasoning and the new-look Flyers lineup
The Matvei Michkov experiment in Philadelphia is hitting a hard pause at the worst possible time.
Philadelphia’s 21-year-old Russian winger is trending toward a healthy scratch for Game 5 in Pittsburgh on Monday, with rookie Alex Bump set to take his spot. Michkov skated with regular scratches Carl Grundstrom and Garrett Wilson at Sunday’s practice, while Bump moved in alongside Noah Cates and Tyson Foerster.
Head coach Rick Tocchet wouldn’t outright confirm the change after practice, but his lean was clear.
“We just wanted to try some stuff out today. Whether he’s in tomorrow, we’ll find out,” Tocchet said, per the Philadelphia Inquirer. “He really looked good in practice today. His shot and energy, after last game, I think we really need some energy.”
Michkov has yet to register a point through the first four games of the series. He’s averaging 10:06 of ice time, second-lowest among Flyers forwards. The 2023 seventh-overall pick has four shots, six penalty minutes, and a minus-1 rating across his playoff debut.
The regular season already pointed to a step backward. Michkov went from 26 goals and 63 points as a rookie under John Tortorella to 20 goals and 51 points this year. Tocchet has been managing his minutes for months, citing an off-season ankle injury and his condition entering training camp.
Tocchet framed Sunday’s call as developmental rather than disciplinary.
Bump has been waiting his turn. The 22-year-old winger lit up the lineup with five goals and four assists in 17 games after his March call-up, and Tocchet has hinted for weeks he wanted to get him into the playoffs. After Saturday’s 4-2 home loss to the Penguins, the head coach is leaning into fresh legs.
Philadelphia still holds a 3-1 series lead and can close out the Penguins at PPG Paints Arena. Puck drop is 7 p.m. ET on NBCSP.
