Both the Penguins and Flyers took advantage of the extra day off in between games on Friday to get a practice in ahead of Saturday night’s Game 4.
Pittsburgh is going back to a successful line, putting Egor Chinakhov back with Evgeni Malkin and Tommy Novak. The trio shined towards the end of the year but has gotten little steady work together this series with Rickard Rakell centering Novak and Malkin in the early portion of games, followed by Anthony Mantha playing there last game.
The other big changes
for the Pens involved swapping out Elmer Soderblom (a healthy scratch in Game 3) for Justin Brazeau. There might be the first switch on the blueline all series, Ilya Solovyov skated with Ryan Shea in the spot that Connor Clifton has been holding down.
Over on the other side of the matchup, some goalie drama is brewing. Dan Vladar has had the Pens’ number this series (3-0, 1.33 GAA, .946 save%) but hasn’t skated since Game 3. Vladar was checked out on his right arm after Bryan Rust drove to the net in Game 3.
Vladar would give up a goal to Erik Karlsson soon after this event, and was noticeably flexing his hand out for a while. You wouldn’t expect cagey coach Rick Tocchet to provide much in the way of detailed information at this time of year and sure enough he hasn’t given out that much information besides the obvious that Vladar has been off the ice. Tocchet admitted Vladar is “banged up” on Thursday, by today Tocchet was pointing out the two days between Games 3 and 4 will help the Flyer goalie before giving the classic “we’ll see” routine.
If Vladar can’t go for Game 4 – or is showing ill effects of his injury – that could be a benefit for the Penguins. Backup Sam Ersson hasn’t had nearly the season that Vladar has had and would represent a big opportunity for the Pens to increase the measly four goals in three games that they’ve generated to put them in an 0-3 hole.
Pittsburgh has to win tomorrow night (game time: after 8:00pm) in order to extend their season for a Game 5 that would be played on Monday back in the ‘Burgh.
