Flyers’ Tippett doubtful for Game 1 against Hurricanes

The Philadelphia Flyers could be without one of their key forwards for Game 1 of their second-round series against the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday night, with Kevin Kurz reporting that winger Owen Tippett is “doubtful,” hours before faceoff. 

According to local reports, Tipppet stayed on the ice with scratches after the regulars left an optional skate and head coach Rick Tocchet said Friday that “it’s a game-time decision,” and that “they’ve all been game times with him. We’ve just got to continue in that mode. 

On Friday, Alex Bump skated alongside Trevor Zegras and Porter Martone in line rushes, sliding into Tippet’s usual spot in the lineup. The 27-year-old Tippett, however, played 21:48 in Game 6, the first-round clinching win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, and previously scored a goal and an assist in Game 3 against their state rivals. 

Despite a lingering injury, he has yet to miss a game in the postseason. Meanwhile, Bump scored a goal in Game 5 against Pittsburgh and remained in the lineup for Game 6. 

Should the Flyers be missing Tippett for Saturday, they will likely need Bump and the rest of the roster to step up in his spot, leaving a significant void after Tippett scored 28 goals and 23 assists for 51 points in 81 games during the regular season. 

Regardless, Saturday night marks a massive moment for the Flyers, set to play the franchise’s first second-round Stanley Cup playoff game since 2020, as they look to advance to the third round and Eastern Conference final for the first time since losing the 2010 Stanley Cup final to the Chicago Blackhawks.  

Meanwhile, the Hurricanes are looking to advance past the second round for back-to-back years, as they enter an eighth straight season featuring at least a single playoff-round victory. 

After Saturday’s Game 1, the Flyers will also play the yet-to-be-scheduled Game 2 in Raleigh before returning home to the Xfinity Mobile Arena for Games 3 and 4.