Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Vigneault quiet on Couturier, bullish on Barzal
Alain Vigneault finally exercised some self-freedom Wednesday in the restrictive Toronto “bubble,” and did what any head coach should be allowed to do – he talked about an injured player.
Of course, it wasn’t one of his players.
As for the Flyers’ walking wounded, that list took a severe turn toward overwhelming concern when their best all-around forward, Sean Couturier, wasn’t available to play in the third period of Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals Tuesday night.
It shouldn’t have been such a surprise, then, that the Flyers blew a two-goal lead in the final 4:14 of regulation without their top defensive forward and penalty killer on the ice. But Scott Laughton bailed everybody out by tipping home an Ivan Provorov shot 12:20 into overtime, giving the Flyers a 4-3 victory that brings them to within a game of the Islanders with Game 6 set for Thursday night at 7 o’clock.
That done, and with fingers crossed, can the Flyers expect to have Couturier for that game? Well, Vigneault wasn’t really able to comment much on that.
“I don’t know more than I knew yesterday on (Couturier) there,” Vigneault said during a press availability Wednesday. “He’s still, at this time, being evaluated.”
But Vigneault was positively enlightening about Mathew Barzal, the player who collided with Couturier on the play in which Couturier got hurt late in the second period.
Barzal would go out in the third when he was hit under his half-face shield by Claude Giroux’s stickblade as the Flyers captain was following through on a shot.
Barzal went out for the rest of the game, the respective injuries essentially balancing each other out. For an update on that injury incurred by the Islanders star, let’s bring in the Flyers’ head coach.
“I have no concern about Barzal,” Vigneault reported. “I came up in the elevator with him last night. I was happy to see and talk with him (and) see that there was nothing serious. That could have been a real bad accident, but fortunately the young man is alright.”
So it appears Barzal will be in the lineup Thursday night. But again, as far as Couturier’s status, “I should know more at some point today. Maybe fill you guys in tomorrow,” Vigneault helpfully said.
Laughton, who had been a healthy scratch for a game earlier in the series, started Game 5 centering a checking line. He earned an assist on a James van Riemsdyk
goal, then when Couturier went out of the game, Laughton went into the thick of the top line.
He went on to score the game-winning goal in OT on a play that Giroux started with a pass across to Provorov.
If Couturier can’t go for Game 6, it would be likely that Laughton stays on the top line, even though Vigneault would have other options. Laughton could center that line or go to left wing and let Giroux center the line.
“Nothing really changes for me,” Laughton said Wednesday. “Just try to skate and create space for these guys. Try to get to the front of the net. At the same time, I got to be good in our own zone and picking up guys late and things like that. Something I will watch on tape and try to continue to get better at.”
While remaining confident, Laughton hopes for the same thing his teammates do – that Couturier will be able to play.
“He does everything for our team,” Laughton said of Couturier. “First power play, first (penalty kill), takes a lot of draws for us. Obviously you’re not going to fill the shoes of a player like that. I think you have to do it by committee and everyone
Islanders center Mathew Barzal (13) celebrates a goal by teammate Josh Bailey as Flyers goaltender Carter Hart looks on Tuesday during the first period of Game 5 at Scotiabank Arena. has to step up and try to do the same job to make up for it.
“We’ll see what happens here in the next day. He’s a leader for us. He brings a lot to our team.”
••• Vigneault on the Islanders, who in this series have won three games by a cumulative score of 10-3, and lost twice in overtime...
“I’ve watched so many games of them post-bubble and all their games in the bubble. There are just no weaknesses there, throughout the lineup, from line one to line four. How many teams in the NHL have
(J.G.) Pageau and (Derick) Brassard on their third line? Just a real solid team from the forward group to the D group to both their goaltenders.”
Vigneault concluded that for the Flyers to compete against the Isles, “you have to play your best.” But he says he’s optimistic after the last two games.
“I’ve really liked the way we’ve trended the last two games,” he said. “That makes me optimistic that we can continue on that rise up. We need to continue to grease it and grind it; find ways to get to the front of their net and get the type of goals you can possibly score at this time of the year against a team that does so much interference.”
That whole assessment runs somewhat counter to the way Kevin Hayes sees it.
“Obviously we came to the bubble and played some good hockey early on,” the Flyers’ center said. “We haven’t been at our best since. It’s do or die time. Everyone needs to bring their A-game and I think everyone knows that. I think it’s a good time to kind of find momentum and come together as a team. It’s exciting hockey right now. Everyone’s pulling for each other. Everyone’s pulling the same rope.”