The Storm Comes to Philly: Hurricanes vs. Flyers Game 3 Preview

Even with plenty of chances in all three periods and overtime, the Philadelphia Flyers fell short to the Carolina Hurricanes, who took a 2-0 series lead after Taylor Hall‘s overtime winner in Game 2. The Flyers blew a 2-0 lead after scoring twice in the first 39 seconds apart, once on the power play. In six more power play opportunities, the Flyers could not convert, even in overtime. The game-tying goal from Seth Jarvis was also a disappointing key point, as the goal looked like one Daniel Vladar was capable of saving.

No matter how disappointing the Game 2 loss was, it was certainly a step up from the shutout the Flyers suffered in the 3-0 Game 1 loss, which is what the Flyers look to do again: take a step above the game before, this time in front of the South Philadelphia crowd.

The Flyers were a lot faster and a lot more physical in Game 2 compared to Game 1, and hope to be at lightning speed in Game 3 against the speedy Canes.

Overcome the Absence of Noah Cates

On Wednesday morning, head coach Rick Tocchet announced that Flyers’ center Noah Cates would miss the remainder of the Eastern Conference Semifinals with a lower-body injury. Though we have no definitive answer on what happened, it seems a shot from K’Andre Miller at the 8:22 mark of period one led to the block from Cates off his ankle, causing the pain to grow and eventually ruling him out for the rest of the series.

Moment of the Cates injury that has knocked him out for the series: https://t.co/kX18at7PqH pic.twitter.com/PEm6cu0zrh

— Broad Street Hockey (@BroadStHockey) May 6, 2026

This injury hurts not only in regard to faceoffs but also on the 200-foot side. Cates brought his defense up front this season with a team-leading +26 rating. Along with shot blocking, Cates excels at clearing the puck and using his gloves to get the puck out of harm’s way.

The Hurricanes put on mass pressure, whether it’s their ability to use their speed to keep the puck in the zone and wear down the defenders, or their ability to bring the puck right back in the zone when cleared. The Flyers, who already had a hard time keeping up with this system, are going to have to face it without Cates, meaning that others have to step up

Play After the Captain

When you think of the best performer for the Flyers this postseason, you may not think of the Flyers’ captain, Sean Couturier. Couturier, who had a slow regular season, has absolutely been an x-factor in the playoffs up to this point.

In points, Couturier is second with four points after scoring his first of the playoffs in the first period, right after the power play goal from Jamie Drysdale.

A good hockey player, however, is much more than the guy who is second in points on the team. Couturier has excelled in his job as an NHL captain during the playoffs, as he has been a physical unit. In the series against the Penguins, Couturier, many times, put his body against the shoulders for satisfying body checks, sending an array of Penguins to the ground and giving the team a slight boost. In overtime, Couturier sent a man to his back on the ice as he slowed down the rush for Carolina.

Couturier also leads the Stanley Cup Playoffs in faceoff percentage with an insane 70 percent win rate, giving the Flyers more and more chances. Couturier, who has famously said that he “never loses [faceoffs] clean,” has done one job after another for the Flyers, making him the perfect player Tocchet could ask for.

It’s great for the captain to show all of the qualities of a strong hockey player, but the point of the captain is to set the example for the rest, and the Flyers have not really followed Couturier’s steps up to this point. Yes, it tanks down the morale when a player like Owen Tippett is out with nagging injuries for a third straight game, but the Flyers need to play with the energy and speed Couturier has been playing with. Tippett, by the way, is a game-time decision Thursday night.

A lot of these Flyers are young, experiencing playoffs for the first time, but Couturier knows he doesn’t have much time left on the clock, and the rest of the Flyers need to play like it.

Get Guys on the Board

After the series against the Penguins, there was still concern for forwards Tyson Foerster and Matvei Michkov, who had both not recorded a goal and combined for one total point on the last goal of the series.

Foerster, who is yet to record a point this playoffs, needs to get on the board during Game 3 at home, as the Flyers are a sniper away from getting themselves an edge in the series. Foerster isn’t the most accurate at all times, but his 215-pound frame gives him a heavy shot at the net, allowing him to receive those 50/50 pucks and roof them on the top right corner. If that was present during Game 2, the Flyers are going to Philadelphia tied at one game apiece.

Michkov, on the other hand, has been known for his snipes from the point and from the tough angles, especially on the power play. This Flyers’ power play, which has not been great, could really use a player like Michkov to swing around the faceoff dots and release his shot at the net. Even if he doesn’t score, he will create more opportunities on the rebound. Right now, Michkov has been receiving the puck on the right side, and he has been more often passing the puck right back to the point where he received it from rather than circling the net like he used to.

The Flyers need these two to get on the board, as it would more than likely give the Flyers at least one game of these two in Philadelphia, giving this team a boost in hope.

Game 3 will take place in Philadelphia at 8:00 p.m. ET on TNT.

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