- Flyers ruled Owen Tippett out about 30 minutes before Game 1 in Raleigh
- Considered day-to-day with an undisclosed injury, no timeline shared
- Read below for how Tocchet adjusted the lineup and what Carolina is dealing with
The Flyers won’t have their leading goal-scorer for the start of Round 2.
Philadelphia ruled Owen Tippett out roughly half an hour before puck drop Saturday at Lenovo Center, with an undisclosed injury keeping the winger off the ice for Game 1 against Carolina. He’s considered day-to-day.
Signs pointed that way most of the day. Tippett took part in Saturday’s optional morning skate but stayed out long after the regulars went in, working through extra reps with the team’s healthy scratches.
This isn’t new ground. He’s been managing something for a while, and head coach Rick Tocchet called Friday’s missed practice a maintenance day.
“They’ve all been game times with him,” Tocchet said. “We’ve got to just continue that mode.”
Losing him stings. The 27-year-old led Philadelphia with 28 goals in the regular season and finished with 51 points across 81 games. He added a goal and an assist in the six-game first-round win over Pittsburgh capped by Cam York’s overtime winner in Game 6.
Tocchet shuffled the deck up front to cover. Alex Bump moved into Tippett’s spot on a line with Trevor Zegras and Porter Martone. Garnet Hathaway returned to the lineup after sitting out the clincher in Pittsburgh.
Carolina has its own absence to manage. Defenseman Alexander Nikishin missed Game 1 too, still working through the concussion he picked up in Game 4 of the first round against Ottawa, per NHL.com. Mike Reilly drew in for his first appearance of the postseason.
Word from the Flyers is Tippett is close. They’ll see how he responds before Game 2 on Monday in Raleigh.
