Signs point to Flyers’ Matvei Michkov being scratched for Game 5 against Penguins

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.

“He’s part of the young group,” Tocchet said of Michkov. “[Barkey] went through it a little bit, Bump a little bit — you hit, not the wall, but kind of plateaued.

“There’s a lot of pace in the playoffs, and you’re looking for that to start us off from the young guys. Not just to pick on them, but I’m just saying. I think it’s OK to evaluate them every once in a while, give them a rest, whether it’s Matvei, whether it’s Bumper, I think that’s the way to develop your players.”

Bump practiced next to Noah Cates and Tyson Foerster, and Barkey moved up on the left wing alongside Trevor Zegras and Owen Tippett, with whom he finished the third period on Saturday.

Bump hasn’t played since the April 14 regular season finale against Montreal, in which he scored a goal. In 17 games, he had five goals and four assists.

“I’m stoked, just try to help the team in any way I can, whether that’s blocking shots or scoring goals, whatever I can do,” Bump said.

Barkey averaged the least ice time of any forward on the team in the first four games, but he scored on Saturday. Tocchet pointed to Barkey’s physicality, even for a player of his size (5-foot-10, 171 pounds).

“He was playing with [Tippett] and Zegras before, about three weeks ago, and that’s when [Barkey] was playing really well,” Tocchet said. “I just felt like we had to make a switch. There’s a couple lines where nothing was happening. It did give a little bit of spark.”

» READ MORE: Three reasons the Flyers aren’t panicking and neither should their fans

According to Natural Stat Trick, that line’s expected goals percentage is 61.81%. The three of them together, in 61:27 together on the ice, outchanced, outshot, and outscored their opponents. Without Tippett and Zegras, the Flyers’ expected goals percentage with Barkey on the ice is 49.94%.

In Game 1, Jamie Drysdale scored the game-opening goal with Tippett, Zegras, and Barkey all on the ice. Barkey set the screen on Stuart Skinner and picked up a secondary assist on the play.

“[Barkey] plays the game at such a high level,” Tippett said. “He’s quick, he gets to areas fast, and he makes plays. For his size, it can be easy for him to get behind guys, but he’s always the first guy in battle. Even on his goal, he’s moving guys out of the way to free up space.”

Emil Andrae took line rushes with Nick Seeler, a sign that he could be ready to return to the lineup after missing Games 2, 3, and 4 with an upper-body injury. Noah Juulsen would come out of the lineup in his place.

Stanley Cup playoffs: Flyers vs. Penguins

Flyers lead series 3-1

Game 1: Flyers 3, Penguins 2 | Sielski: Kids stand tall
Game 2: Flyers 3, Penguins 0 | Sielski: Stealing Pens' will
Game 3: Flyers 5, Penguins 2 | Sielski: Shades of glory days
Game 4: Penguins 4, Flyers 2 | Sielski: New test awaits
Game 5: Flyers at Penguins, Monday (7 p.m., ESPN, NBCSP)
*Game 6: Penguins at Flyers, Wednesday (Time TBD)
*Game 7: Flyers at Penguins, May 2 (Time TBD)

*if necessary

Hello world

Lorem ipsum