Inadvertently, Flyers head coach Alain Wignold may have received an injury update for the opposition with his own eyes on Tuesday night.
During the Flyers’ 4-3 overtime victory in Game 5 that night, Islanders all-star center Matthew Bursal took control of Clyde Giroux with an accidental but terrifying high shot and left control within five minutes. Barcelona did not play in the third period or overtime.
On Thursday morning, just before game 6 (7pm ET / NBCSN), Islanders head coach Barry Trots stamped out Bursal as a game-time decision.
After the game, Vignolt ran to the hotel elevator in Bursal and the coaches in New York.
“I was with four coaches from the Islanders and Bursal,” Wignold said in a video interview Wednesday with a laugh. “This is life in the bubble.
“I was happy to see him and talk to him. See that there is nothing significant. It may be a bad accident, but fortunately that young man is all right.”
Will Barcelona play? Will he not play? Is this a little gamemanship? No one but the islanders (and Wignold) really knows, but the challenge posed by the Bursal Flyers. The 23-year-old Swift, who has 17 points (six goals and 11 assists) in 11 career regular-season games against the Flyers, has four points (one goal and three assists) from five games in the series.
For the Flyers, who are trailing 3-2 in the top seven second-round play-off series, Barcelona’s position will not affect their preparation or game plan.
Wignold said ahead of Game 6. “It was an unfortunate game, an unfortunate accident. We are preparing, we are focusing on what we need to do in our team and in our group. “
Flyers Group Sean is not the most important player in Couture. Vignolt could not comment on Couturier’s status for Game 6 (the second time Selke Trophy finalist was forced to leave Game 5 and did not return after colliding with Bursal, Couture may have been on his knees with Bursal. For some reason, Couture’s chances of playing Game 6 do not seem promising, But you never know.
“As I mentioned a few times, talking about availability is against the NHL protocol,” Vignolt said Thursday. “What I will say, however, is that throughout our season, behind this time of playing here, we have the mentality of the next man, who is ready to play.
“Throughout the season, I think most of the players in the flyers have not been told we’re just singing to play in the first game anyway. Before each game, we ‘ve got decisions for lineups. Of course not.
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