For the first time since 2012, the Philadelphia Flyers will host a second-round Stanley Cup Playoff game tonight as they take on the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals at Xfinity Mobile Arena, and the building already looks ready for it.
As shared by the Flyers ahead of tonight’s game, every seat is covered in orange T-shirts featuring Dan Vladař’s now-iconic quote after the Game 6 win over Pittsburgh: “Good things happen to good people.”
After losing the first two games in Carolina, the Flyers return home looking to ‘Ignite Their Orange’ by shifting momentum on home ice.
Where: Xfinity Mobile Arena; Philadelphia, PA
When: 05/07/2026; 8pm/ET
TV Broadcast: TNT, HBO Max
Series: 2-0 CAR
Game 1: 0-3 L
Game 2: 3-2 OT L
Tonight’s Numbers
This series has not been shy when it comes to penalties.
Game 1 featured 68 combined penalty minutes, with both teams going 0-for-4 on the power play. Game 2 somehow had fewer penalty minutes, a combined 30 between the two teams, though it certainly did not feel that way. The Flyers finished 1-for-7 on the power play while the Hurricanes went 1-for-6.
Among all playoff teams, including those already eliminated, Carolina currently owns the 3rd best penalty kill at 93.8%. Jamie Drysdale’s power play goal in Game 2 was only the second power play goal the Hurricanes have allowed this postseason.
The Flyers’ penalty kill has also been strong, ranking 7th at 86.2%.
Ironically, neither team has found much consistency on the power play itself. Carolina is operating at just 12% this postseason, while Philadelphia sits at 10.7%. Considering the Hurricanes finished the regular season with the league’s 4th best power play at 24.9%, their struggles with the man advantage have been somewhat surprising.
From the Flyers’ perspective, continuing to shut down Carolina’s power play would obviously be ideal, but staying out of the box altogether might be even better.
Philadelphia Flyers
Like most playoff teams this time of year, the Flyers are battling through injuries. Unfortunately for Philadelphia, those injuries are starting to pile up among key players.
Noah Cates has officially been ruled out for the remainder of the series after suffering what appears to be a foot injury on a blocked shot in the first period of Game 2. Losing Cates is a significant blow to the lineup, his Selke-caliber defensive play is hard to replicate.
There was optimism that Owen Tippett could potentially return after missing Games 1 and 2. Tippett was on the ice yesterday and appeared to be trending in the right direction, but it does not look like he will re-enter the lineup tonight.
Christian Dvorak, meanwhile, appears ready to go. After being listed day-to-day and missing practice yesterday, the veteran center is expected to play tonight.
The Flyers did receive some reinforcements this week with the addition of Jett Luchanko to the roster. Luchanko made the team out of training camp for the second straight year and appeared in four games earlier this season before returning to junior hockey. After finishing the season with the Brantford Bulldogs following a midseason trade from the Guelph Storm, his junior campaign has now wrapped up, giving Philadelphia the opportunity to get him more NHL experience during this playoff run, whether or not he ultimately draws into the lineup.
With all of the injuries and lineup uncertainty, the Flyers’ forward lines remain somewhat fluid heading into tonight. Because today’s skate was optional, there still is not a completely clear picture of what the lineup will look like.
Dvorak, Trevor Zegras, Denver Barkey, and Sean Couturier are expected to center the four lines, while Carl Grundström could move up to the third line. Garnet Hathaway is also expected to re-enter the lineup after sitting out Game 2.
One encouraging sign from Game 2 was Philadelphia finally breaking through early. The Flyers scored their first 1st period goals of the playoffs with two quick ones, though they failed to score again afterward.
Still, the overtime period may have been the Flyers’ best stretch of hockey in the series so far. Philadelphia played with desperation, pace, and aggression, and they will need that same energy for a full 60 minutes tonight if they want to take control of the series on home ice.
And, of course, the Flyers will once again turn to Vladař between the pipes. Vladař has been phenomenal throughout the postseason, continuing the strong play he showed during the regular season. Through eight playoff games, he owns a 1.89 GAA and a .929 SV%, repeatedly giving the Flyers opportunities to stay in games even when they have been outshot or under pressure.
Carolina Hurricanes
Alexander Nikishin missed Games 1 and 2 of the series after suffering a concussion during Carolina’s first-round matchup against the Ottawa Senators, but he has now been cleared and practiced with the team both yesterday and today. He is expected to return to the lineup alongside Shayne Gostisbehere, pushing Mike Reilly out of the lineup.
Logan Stankoven, who got tangled up with Vladař in Game 2, leads the Hurricanes in playoff goals with 6, including the two-goal performance in Game 1 of this series. While he was held off the scoresheet in Game 2, he still generated 4 shots on goal and remained dangerous throughout the night.
Taylor Hall has been Carolina’s overall points leader this postseason with 3 goals and 6 assists for 9 total points, including the overtime winner in Game 2.
Another Hurricane to keep an eye on tonight is Eric Robinson. The Bellmawr, New Jersey native, who grew up a Flyers fan, was relentlessly attacking the net in Game 2. Robinson recorded 6 shots after registering just 1 in Game 1, but Vladař repeatedly denied him with several key saves. It would not be surprising to see Robinson continue crashing the crease and testing Vladař tonight.
Frederik Andersen will once again start in goal for Carolina. The veteran netminder has been outstanding this postseason, allowing just 7 total goals through 6 playoff appearances while posting a remarkable .958 SV%. The Flyers did manage to beat him quickly in Game 2, however, and they will need to carry that same attacking mentality into tonight’s game if they hope to cut Carolina’s series lead to 2-1 tonight.
Injury Report: Philadelphia Flyers
- Noah Cates (Lower-body)
- Nikita Grebenkin (Upper-body)
- Owen Tippett (Undisclosed)
- Rodrigo Ābols (Ankle)
Injury Report: Carolina Hurricanes
Projected Lineup: Philadelphia Flyers
#71 Tyson Foerster – #22 Christian Dvorak – #11 Travis Konecny
#20 Alex Bump – #46 Trevor Zegras – #94 Porter Martone
#91 Carl Grundström – #52 Denver Barkey – #39 Matvei Michkov
#41 Luke Glendening – #14 Sean Couturier – #19 Garnet Hathaway
#6 Travis Sanheim – #55 Rasmus Ristolainen
#8 Cam York – #9 Jamie Drysdale
#24 Nick Seeler – #36 Emil Andrae
#80 Dan Vladař
(#33 Sam Ersson)
Scratched: Aleksei Kolosov, Carson Bjarnason, David Jiříček, Garrett Wilson, Helge Grans, Hunter McDonald, Jacob Gaucher, Jett Luchanko, Noah Juulsen, Oliver Bonk, Oscar Eklind
Projected Lineup: Carolina Hurricanes
#37 Andrei Svechnikov – #20 Sebastian Aho – #24 Seth Jarvis
#71 Taylor Hall – #22 Logan Stankoven – #53 Jackson Blake
#27 Nikolaj Ehlers – #11 Jordan Staal – #48 Jordan Martinook
#28 William Carrier – #77 Mark Jankowski – #50 Eric Robinson
#74 Jaccob Slavin – #5 Jalen Chatfield
#19 K’Andre Miller – #26 Sean Walker
#21 Alexander Nikishin – #4 Shayne Gostisbehere
#31 Frederik Andersen
(#32 Brandon Bussi)
Scratched: Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Mike Reilly, Nic Deslauriers, Pyotr Kochetkov
