Flyers’ Owen Tippett participates in optional skate and is likely a game-time decision for Game 2
Tippett remains day-to-day with an undisclosed injury, coach Rick Tocchet said after an optional skate on Sunday. The team missed his speed and playmaking in their Game 1 loss to the Hurricanes.
RALEIGH, N.C ― Owen Tippett skated during the Flyers’ optional skate on Sunday after missing the team’s Game 1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes.
The Flyers didn’t run line rushes, and Tippett left the ice with the main group instead of staying on late, as he did on Saturday, so it’s not yet clear whether Tippett will return to the lineup on Monday or miss his second consecutive game with the undisclosed injury.
Flyers coach Rick Tocchet said his status was “the same thing, day-to-day” on Sunday, meaning that Tippett is likely to be a game-time decision for Monday’s Game 2 (7 p.m., ESPN). Tippett frequently missed skates and practices during the Flyers’ first-round series against the Penguins, but managed to play in all six games.
» READ MORE: Flyers couldn’t contain Hurricanes’ early surge, but an increased third-period pace gives optimism for Game 2
Tippett wasn’t the most effective forward for the Flyers against Pittsburgh, scoring just two points and zero at five-on-five. But his speed and playmaking ability, especially on the rush, was sorely missed by the Flyers on Saturday.
“He’s a speed demon for us,” Tocchet said. “With the way Carolina plays … we had a couple breakaways, or a couple two-on-ones, if we can convert on that, you never know. [Tippett’s] one of those guys who can get a breakaway, or can get a two-on-one.”
The Flyers ended Game 1 with just 19 shots on goal, most of those coming in the third period while trailing 3-0. Carolina plays a suffocating defensive system that doesn’t allow for many scoring chances, and the Flyers struggled to establish extended offensive zone time.
That makes taking advantage of those transition scoring opportunities even more critical. Linemate Trevor Zegras said the energy Tippett brings to the ice to push those plays is contagious.
“When I play with him, I feel like, just by how he uses his feet, I usually get my feet going a little bit more,” Zegras said. “So maybe without him, [I just need to] get it going a little bit earlier. He’s just a good leader and example for everyone else the way he plays: how physical he is, how hard he is on the forecheck, his shoot-first mentality.”
» READ MORE: The Flyers need to find an answer for Carolina’s Hall-Stankoven-Blake line and fast
The Flyers have not disclosed the nature of Tippett’s injury, or what sort of milestones he might need to hit to return to the ice. But his participation in Sunday’s skate looked more promising toward potentially skating in Game 2.
“In the playoffs, you’re going to deal with certain things,” Tocchet said of Tippett’s injury after the Game 2 win against Pittsburgh. “I’m sure it’s kind of one of those things. So we’ll keep an eye on it.”
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