The Flyers and Penguins battle will have a bit of a different look to it when they take to the ice on Thursday night. Sidney Crosby and Brian Dumoulin both tested positive for COVID-19 and will miss tomorrow’s game. This comes with the Penguins already missing Evgeni Malkin, Brian Rust, Chad Ruhwedel, and Marcus Pettersson.
Crosby has shown mild symptoms thus far and Dumoulin has been asymptomatic. Despite missing key players, the Penguins have still played fairly well. The Metropolitan Division as a whole has been a tough one to play in. The top five teams are separated by just six points. The Penguins round out the division with eight points, having gone 3-3-2 thus far. The Flyers come into this matchup at 5-2-1.
No matter who will take the ice, though, the matchups between these two teams have always been exciting. Philadelphia got blown out 7-3 the last time they took on Pittsburgh. This came a day after the Flyers were on the winning end of a 7-2 game. The last time they played the Penguins on the road, they came out on top in a close 2-1 overtime game.
So these games can go any way. But without Crosby, this particular matchup will certainly look a lot different from previous ones. Crosby had just returned to the lineup this past Saturday after missing the team’s first six games while he recovered from wrist surgery.
"“He’s obviously a great player. He brings a lot to his team.” Claude Giroux said after practice on Wednesday.“Every time we play Pittsburgh in general, it’s a great game, it’s a great battle. Crosby is still one of the top guys in the league…It’s gonna be a good challenge and a good game.” Ivan Provorov said after practice."
Ryan Ellis remains out, will not make the trip
The Flyers have their own troubles as well as Ryan Ellis is still not cleared to return to the lineup. He has taken part in rehab skates with Kevin Hayes before practice but hasn’t joined the main group. Alain Vigneault mentioned that if he did not skate with the team on Wednesday, then he would not travel to Pittsburgh or Washington.
"“He’s not making it on the trip. He’s progressing but he’s not there yet. He won’t be available on this two-game road trip. Hopefully when we get back, he’ll be able to join the group.”"
It was confirmed recently that Ellis is dealing with the same injury that kept him out of a few practices before the regular season began. Justin Braun has been filling in on the top pairing with Ivan Provorov. A day-to-day injury has certainly turned into week-by-week at this point. But it still doesn’t seem like an injury that the team has been too concerned about.
He’ll be evaluated once again after the team returns home ahead of a matchup with the Maple Leafs.
“I need shooters for the goaltenders” Hayes making the trip with Flyers
Kevin Hayes has been around the team since the beginning. He wanted to be around during his rehab process and will have missed the standard 10 games when the Flyers face Toronto next Wednesday.
With the Flyers not having many extra skaters at the moment, Vigneault tried to hold back laughter when he explained why Hayes was making the trip to both Pittsburgh and Washington.
"“He’s making the trip because we don’t have any spares, and I need shooters for the goaltenders on game days.”"
While it is too soon to say whether or not he will actually return next week, he has been skating with the team in practices after his own rehab skates. There is some hope that he will be cleared full-time to practice with his Flyers teammates soon. Vigneault mentioned the potential four-to-six or six-to-eight week timeline is tough to gauge. With this being his second abdominal injury, they are going to play it safe with his return.
It could take him a handful of practices as well to get up to speed since he did not have a regular training camp. The Flyers have performed admirably without him as Derick Brassard has taken the 2C role and formed a solid trio with Cam Atkinson and Joel Farabee. The three have cooled off recently, though. It’s no doubt the Flyers will become an even better team with Hayes’ arrival.