Six of the top players for the Carolina Hurricanes did not dress for Monday’s game against the Flyers in Philadelphia.
Three of the team’s top four scorers — Sebastian Aho (27 goals, 53 assists), Andrei Svechnikov (31 goals, 39 assists) and Seth Jarvis (32 goals, 34 assists) — were not in the lineup, along with captain Jordan Staal, and premier defensemen Jaccob Slavin and ex-Flyer Shayne Gostisbehere.
Carolina has clinched the Metropolitan Division, but still needs one more point either at Philadelphia or at New York Islanders on Tuesday to sew up the top seed in the Eastern Conference.
However, the Flyers can clinch their first playoff berth since the 2019-20 with a win over the Hurricanes or a win over the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday.
A Philadelphia win either night would eliminate the Washington Capitals and Columbus Blue Jackets from the playoffs.
“You’re gonna get probably the toughest game of the year,” Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour said on the team’s pregame show.
Brind’Amour’s son Skyler, who has played in two contests at the NHL level in each of the past two seasons, is one of Carolina’s reserves on Monday.
–Field Level Media
