Flyers defenseman Cam York is expecting to play in Game 3 despite battling a rib injury
The news comes a day after coach Rick Tocchet said York was a little banged up. “I think last game, he took a shot in the ribs, I don’t know what part of the game, and it was a laser," he said.
Standing in the Flyers locker room after morning skate at Xfinity Mobile Arena, Cam York said he would be good to go Wednesday night.
The confirmation comes a day after coach Rick Tocchet said the 25-year-old defenseman was a little banged up.
“I thought Cam’s done really well,” Tocchet said via Zoom on Tuesday. “I think last game, he took a shot in the ribs, I don’t know what part of the game, and it was a laser, and he’s hurting a little bit. And he’s stuck in there and playing the minutes that he’s playing.”
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According to the NHL’s play-by-play, York blocked two shots in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference first-round series against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Both came while the Flyers were on the penalty kill — which has gone 7-for-7 thus far — one a wrister off the stick of Evgeni Malkin and the other a slap shot from none other than Sidney Crosby.
But those both came in the first period, and York finished the night with more than 23 minutes of ice time in the Flyers’ 3-0 win which catapulted them to a 2-0 series lead. Game 3 is Wednesday night at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
“I just think he’s taking a step, as much as physically, mentally. More consistency from him, I see. There’ll be some games where he bounces back; it’s not going three, four games like maybe in the past I’ve heard,” said Tocchet, who acknowledged he didn’t delve too much into York’s past since he was drafted in 2019.
The past involved inconsistency. In February 2024, then-coach John Tortorella called York “one of our better defenders,” but last season, he was a healthy scratch a handful of times, notably in March. It climaxed with an altercation with Tortorella right before the coach was fired.
But after York signed a five-year, $25.75 million contract extension this past summer, and a 2024-25 season that was “obviously really frustrating for me,” he has reverted to the player of two seasons ago — especially since he started playing alongside Jamie Drysdale.
Through two games, while they might have faced 25 shot attempts to the Flyers’ 16 when they’re on the ice, they are up 1-0 in goals, and that’s what matters.
“I honestly haven’t really dived into his past as much as the present,” Tocchet said. “And I just felt this year that he’s more consistent in his game, puck decisions and stuff like that.
“He’s still working on it, but I think him and Drysy, the last month, have really taken a step as a pair. They’re not the biggest guys, but they can defend with their brain and their quickness.”
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For the California kid, he is just riding the wave of the postseason. After 309 regular-season games, he’s getting his first taste of the Stanley Cup playoffs. York has played in these kinds of big games, like winning gold for USA Hockey at the 2021 World Juniors, but that was a short tournament. So he spoke to assistant coach Todd Reirden, who is in charge of the defense, about the playoffs, and yes, the intensity matched what the veteran coach and former NHLer said.
Now York and the Flyers are set to hit the ice at home, eight years to the day since the last home playoff game in front of the fans.
“We’ve all heard the stories and seen the videos and whatnot, just to finally be a part of it, it’s special,” he said. “We know that they’re going to be loud, and it’s going to be an emotional, fast-paced game. So we’re excited.”