Flyers’ Toughness and Grit Sets Them Apart From the Rest

After a hard-fought run to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Carolina Hurricanes, the Philadelphia Flyers are finally getting the rest they earned, especially the players who battled through injuries along the way. In the playoffs, every player is expected to empty the tank no matter the cost, but that mindset often comes with a brutal price, injuries that linger long after the season ends.

Four Flyers, however, skated until they couldn’t anymore, showing the commitment and the dedication that come with wearing the Flyers’ crest on the front. Owen Tippett, Noah Cates, Christian Dvorak, and Cam York all gave it their all on the ice despite horrible injuries that could have easily prevented them from playing in the playoffs.

Though Tippett did not play in the four second-round games against the Hurricanes, he still fought his way through the series against the Pittsburgh Penguins, which was stretched to six games. Tippett had reportedly been dealing with a sports hernia that stretched farther than the series against the Hurricanes. It was a huge disappointment that Tippett was not available at all during the second round, but the fact that he was able to finish the series against the Penguins and be with the team during that stretch is incredible on its own. A series where Tippett really showed his speed and physicality combined undoubtedly sent the Flyers to the second round, as he was always a step above the Penguins.

Another Flyers who’s postseason was cut short was Cates, who sustained a lower-body injury in Game 2 against the Hurricanes. Despite the injury that would prevent him from playing the rest of the series, Cates would go on to finish Game 2 and finish with seven seconds shy of 21 minutes of ice time. Cates has always been the one to send himself out on the ice to take pucks to the body, which is rumored to be what sent him down for Game 3 and Game 4 of the series, after a shot from defenseman K’Andre Miller struck Cates on the lower leg region. Cates has been a reliable option all year on defense, despite being a forward, and he certainly earned all the respect in the world for finishing out Game 2.

York, who was the hero of Game 6 against the Penguins with his overtime goal, continued to be the hero after it was revealed that he had been playing with a broken rib during the second round. As painful as a broken rib sounds to anyone, it wasn’t painful enough for York to sit aside and spectate for the rest of the playoffs, as he went out there for the rest of the series. In Game 2, York went on the ice for 27:43, and averaged 24:25 for both Game 3 and Game 4. York still went out for what was needed despite the broken rib. During Game 4, despite the loss, York had a rating of +2, as he was out there for both goals scored by the Flyers. With all the struggles York has gone through this year, he ended his season earning the most respect he could possibly have.

Dvorak was also out on the ice for all four games of the second round, despite a separated shoulder. Dvorak was day-to-day in between Games 2 and 3, but still played and recorded an assist in Game 4 in 16-plus minutes of ice time. With a separated shoulder comes bumps, pain, and reduced movement in the shoulder, as the collar bone meets the shoulder blade. With all of that in mind, Dvorak knew what he meant to the Flyers and knew what the situation was, and he decided to play all four games of the series.

Gritty is not just the name of the Flyers’ mascot, but it’s also a perfect word to use to describe the Flyers and their mentality. The injuries listed above are all severe and painful, but the Flyers’ passion and their fight just act as a preview of what the Flyers can really look like next year and on.

Rick Tocchet has always wanted a passionate and gritty culture in his locker room, and the sacrifices made by Dvorak, Tippett, Cates, and York really define what it means to be a Flyer.

A team that sat at 3.8 percent to make the playoffs at the break did whatever it took. Tyson Foerster came back to the lineup despite an arm injury that was projected to keep him out for the year. This team was counted out by the world in the first round against the Penguins and Sidney Crosby, but they fought through whatever pain they felt just so they could be the stronger team in the series.

The culture of the Flyers is above the others in the National Hockey League, and it was definitely reflected by the sacrifices made along the way.

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