Flyers-Penguins news: Matvei Michkov could be healthy scratch; series jumps to ESPN as Philly goes for gentleman's sweep

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.