Flyers lose a wild Game 5 to the Penguins; series back in Philly for Game 6

Things are starting to get a little tight.

Up three games to none in thos best-of-seven series, the Flyers’ lead has now been cut to just one game after the Pittsburgh Penguins won Game 5 by a score of 3-2.

Although the Flyers came out with some oomph, they found themselves in a 1-0 hole for the third straight game. This time, it was Elmer Söderblom sending the puck past the glove of Dan Vladař on the Penguins’ first shot of the game, less than three minutes in.

After a brilliant start by the Flyers, that at one point included leading the shot attempts, 15-2, the ice tilted over the second half of the period.

But while the Pens huffed and puffed, and fired a flurry of shots on goal, Dan Vladař stood tall with nine saves after allowing Elmer Söderblom to score on Pittsburgh's first shot of the game.

Trevor Zegras had two great chances to tie things in the final minute of the period, but he fanned on a breakaway and then had a through-the-legs attempt flash just wide.

The Flyers came out flying at PPG Paints Arena in Game 5, yet less than three minutes in they trailed 1-0 via an Elmer Söderblom goal.

The goal came on Pittsburgh’s first shot of the game, and right after the Flyers had two or three golden chances to break the ice. Alex Bump, playing in place of Matvei Michkov, fired a shot from the slot on his first shift of the series, before Denver Barkey was stopped by Artūrs Šilovs, and Owen Tippett fired the rebound wide from in close. Nick Seeler then had a long-distance effort kicked out by Pittsburgh’s Latvian netminder.

Söderblom then pounced, one-timing an errant pass from Anthony Mantha, that looked to be intended for Ben Kindel.

Matvei Michkov will be a scratch for the Flyers in Game 5. 

After skating with the extras during Sunday’s practice, Michkov did not participate in warmups on Monday ahead of Game 5, confirming that he is not expected to play.

Alex Bump will draw in in Michkov’s place, playing left wing with center Noah Cates and right wing Tyson Foerster. Bump last played in the final game of the regular season against Montreal on April 16, scoring a goal. He scored 9 points in 17 appearances at the NHL level this season. Game 5 will be his first career NHL playoff game.

Shane Temple, the 10-year-old Flyers fan whose signed Trevor Zegras jersey disappeared during Game 3 against the Pittsburgh Penguins after he took it off in celebration, received a signed replacement on Monday.

Just in time for Game 5.

“I couldn’t have been any happier in my LIFE!” read a handwritten note by Temple to Taryn Hatcher, former Phillies sideline reporter with NBC Sports Philadelphia, who helped make it happen.

Enough pucks blasted through the basement’s drywall that Mike Martone replaced it with plywood, covering the holes his son created and hoping to prevent more.

The unfinished basement — with a Flyers magnet on the ductwork providing a forecast of what was to come — was where Porter Martone often hung out as his parents sent him and his sister downstairs whenever they needed to exert some energy.

The 19-year-old has been a sensation ever since joining the Flyers in March and he is the youngest Flyers player to score in his postseason debut. His skills have allowed him to fit in as he’s rarely looked like a teenager while playing against the Pittsburgh Penguins, who have players twice his age.

While a lot of the hot air the past few days has revolved around Matvei Michkov’s likely benching for Game 5, let’s not forget about Alex Bump, the guy who is poised to replace him in the lineup.

The rookie Bump, who had five goals and nine points in 17 games this season, is a player the Flyers are very high on for the future. The 22-year-old was also very efficient in his limited NHL action this season, as his 2.48 points per 60 minutes was the highest ratio on the team.

The two things that stick out most about Bump are his lethal shot — often on pull-and-drags — and his brimming confidence.

If life were The Godfather, and someone were to ask Clemenza about Matvei Michkov and his performance in this playoff series against the Penguins, you know what the answer would be.

Oh, Matvei. Won’t see him no more.

Rick Tocchet seems to feel the same. All signs are pointing toward his benching Michkov for tonight’s Game 5, and it’s hard to blame the Flyers’ head coach. His team is one victory from advancing to the second round but might be reeling a bit from its meh effort in a 4-2 loss Saturday in Game 4, and Michkov has been arguably the most inconsequential Flyer in the series. He’s getting just more than 10 minutes of ice time a game, hasn’t recorded a point, and has just four shots on goal. Based on those numbers and the reality that, if you watch him play, you can see clearly that he isn’t doing much, it shouldn’t be surprising if he’s not in the lineup tonight.

Coach Rick Tocchet wouldn’t commit to any line changes for the Flyers’ Game 5 matchup Monday against the Penguins, but it sure looks like Matvei Michkov will be a scratch and Alex Bump will draw into the lineup for his first career playoff game.

“We just wanted to try some stuff out today; whether [Bump’s] in tomorrow, we’ll find out,” Tocchet said Sunday after practice. “He really looked good in practice today. His shot and energy, after last game I think we really need some energy.”

Michkov took line rushes in practice with Garrett Wilson and Carl Grundstrom, who have been scratched for every game of the series. Michkov has yet to record a point in four games and is averaging just 10 minutes, 6 seconds of ice time, second-lowest among forwards ahead of only Denver Barkey.

Goalie Dan Vladař probably summed it up the best after the Flyers lost for the first time in their Eastern Conference first-round series against the Pittsburgh Penguins:

“We are good,” he said several times. “We’re good.”

That’s an accurate statement. Although they couldn’t close it out Saturday at home in front of the faithful, the loss doesn’t put the Flyers on the brink of elimination. That pressure still belongs to the Penguins, who trail three to one in the best-of-seven series despite a 4-2 victory in Game 4.

If the Flyers win Game 5 tonight, Philly will move on to face the Carolina Hurricanes in the second round of the NHL playoffs.

The Eastern Conference’s top seed swept the Ottawa Senators in their first-round playoff series, and are looking to advance to their third Eastern final in four years.

Here's where the Eastern Conference playoffs stand heading into Monday night:

Brian Boucher will be back on NBC Sports Philadelphia tonight as the Flyers-Penguins series shifts to Pittsburgh ... and ESPN.

Boucher, the former Flyers goaltender turned broadcaster, will call all the action alongside Jim Jackson, the team's longtime TV voice. Scott Hartnell, who replaced Broucher for Games 3 and 4, will return to the studio for pre- and postgame coverage alongside Ashlyn Sullivan and former 94.1 WIP host Al Morganti. 

Over on ESPN, Sean McDonough will call the game alongside Ray Ferraro. Emily Kaplan will report from PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh.