The Philadelphia Flyers held a final practice before facing the Carolina Hurricanes in Round 2 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Coach Rick Tocchet expressed mixed feelings about the limited practice time but ultimately appreciated the consistency in their routine.
Key points
Flyers practiced before Round 2 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs
They won their Round 1 series against the Pittsburgh Penguins
Coach Rick Tocchet had mixed feelings about the limited practice time
The Hurricanes had a week off before facing the Flyers
The Flyers aimed to fine-tune their strategies during practice
Philadelphia FlyersPittsburgh PenguinsCarolina Hurricanes
VOORHEES, NJ – One last time before Round 2 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs begins, the Philadelphia Flyers took the ice at the Flyers Training Center for one practice before heading down to Raleigh. It was also the first time they practiced since winning their Round 1 series vs. the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The fact that the Flyers could fit only one practice into their schedule before the next round began seemed a bit unfortunate. After practice, Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet mentioned that at first, he did not like that they only got two days off. I mean, I wouldn’t either. Carolina has had the week off. Then Tocchet said he thought about it differently and concluded that he likes that their routine isn’t changing.
So now, the Flyers will have had two days away from games, some time to rest, and time to fine-tune some things, and will play a Hurricanes team that could have had, maybe a little too much time off.
So, at practice, the Flyers were brief. They had a plane to catch.
They ran some lines and did a little drill that looked like zone entry/exits with pressure and power-play work, mostly at 5-on-3. Then it was off the ice and onto their flight.
Here is what you need to know from Flyers practice.
Special Teams
**PP1:**Drysdale, Cates, Zegras, Foerster, Martone
**PP2:**Ristolainen, Dvorak, Barkey, Konecny, Michkov
Again, take everything here with a grain of salt. Owen Tippett, who has been limited in practice and morning skates, was absent from practice. Afterward, Rick Tocchet confirmed that it was a maintenance day and that he would be a game-time decision, just like every other game in the last series.
That said, Alex Bump was skating in the top-line role where Tippett is expected to play. In the past, that was a sign that Bump was a stand-in and would be a scratch on Saturday. He even had a conversation with Tocchet at the end of practice.
When asked about that conversation, Tocchet said, “Are you saying he’s out? He’s not out,” and sounded pretty adamant. So, we’ll see on Saturday whether that was gamesmanship or if he’s really not out.
If Bump really is back in the lineup, I’d expect things to feel much more like Wednesday’s lines rather than the practice groups.
Cam York got his stick back
Cam York’s reaction to his game-winning goal on Wednesday was priceless. In the midst of it all, York threw his stick into the crowd in celebration, giving one lucky fan an incredible souvenir from the game.
At today’s practice, a trade was made. The fan that caught the lucky stick was in attendance and returned the stick to York in exchange for an old stick, an autographed jersey, and tickets to a game in the next series.
When asked about it, York was super grateful. “This is obviously a special moment for me. He is a super nice guy, and I just met him. You know, for him to just give it back for kind of nothing, I mean, I really appreciate that. That’s one of the best things about Philly fans.”
York said he blacked out in the moment, but remembered thinking “Why did I do that,” in the aftermath of it all. The Flyers’ defenseman wanted it as something to look back on many, many years from now when his career is over. “When my career is done with and over with, I want to have some things to look back on and remember and cherish.”
Obviously, York said he will not be using the stick again, and it will be framed. He also thanked the Flyers media/communications staff for helping him track down the stick.
Now, York and his teammates’ focus is on Carolina.
A look inside the Flyers locker room
All throughout the series with the Pittsburgh Penguins, the locker room felt very businesslike. Players kept their heads down, emotions on the inside, and it was always on to the next. The locker room felt much more like it did before the series started.
Aside from the hustle and bustle of the equipment staff getting everything in order before their flight to Carolina, the room felt light. The guys were in a good mood, chatting, and just seemed loose. If Round 2 is anything like Round 1, that will be the end of it until the series is over.
One of the cooler moments from the locker room was when the viral video from the Sixers playoff Game 6 of Denver Barkey and Porter Martone reacting to a VJ Edgecombe dunk was shown to Barkey. If you have not seen the video, here it is.
Barkey loved the video, and immediately jumped up and went over to Martone’s stall, still in most of his great and yelled: “Marty, you gotta see this.” It was pretty cool to see how excited it made the two young Flyers to see that for the first time.