Matvei Michkov scratched; rookies Jett Luchanko and Oliver Bonk debut for Flyers in Game 4
Luchanko, 19, and Bonk, 21, will both make their playoff debuts in a must-win Game 4 at home.
Matvei Michkov is scratched for the Flyers in Game 4 against Carolina.
With the team down 3-0, the Flyers will turn to 2024 first-round pick Jett Luchanko in the potential season finale.
In eight playoff games, Michkov has one point, a primary assist on the overtime winner in Game 6 against Pittsburgh, and is a minus-three. He was first scratched for Alex Bump in Game 5 of that first-round series before returning to the lineup alongside Bump in Game 6. Now, with Noah Cates and Owen Tippett sidelined, Michkov will sit and Luchanko will take his place on Denver Barkey’s right wing in Game 4. Left wing Carl Grundström will complete the line.
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Luchanko,19, was recently called up to the Flyers after the end of his Ontario Hockey League season with the Brantford Bulldogs. Luchanko played four games and did not record a point this year for the Flyers before he was assigned back to his junior team. In eight career NHL games, Luchanko has yet to tally a point. Game 4 will be his playoff debut and his first NHL game since Oct. 20. Luchanko scored 43 points in 28 OHL games this year, including seven points in 15 playoff games with Brantford.
Defenseman Oliver Bonk, 21, also made his playoff debut. Bonk has been skating with the playoff group since Lehigh Valley’s elimination from AHL playoff contention, but had yet to skate in a game. Bonk played in the final regular-season game against Montreal, his NHL debut, and recorded a goal and an assist. Emil Andrae and Noah Juulsen will both sit.
