Cates to miss rest of Eastern 2nd Round for Flyers with lower-body injury

With the Flyers having the last change at home, Tocchet likely would have matched Cates against the Hurricanes’ scorching line of center Logan Stankoven, left wing Taylor Hall and right wing Jackson Blake. They have combined for eight points (four goals, four assists) in the first two games of the series, with Stankoven (Game 1) and Hall (Game 2) each with a game-winning goal.

“Going to have to manipulate how we’re going to do with those lines,” Tocchet said. “Obviously the Stankoven line has been a pain in Ottawa’s (against the Senators in the first round) and our side, so we have to neutralize that line. Other than that, we’ve been pretty good against the other lines. So, we’re going to have to put a couple lines (together) where we can neutralize.”

On the penalty kill, Tocchet said forward Carl Grundstrom could see extra time; he had one assist in 13:45 in his playoff debut Monday.

Philadelphia also added center Jett Luchanko to the roster Wednesday, following the end of his season with Brantford of the Ontario Hockey League on Monday. The 19-year-old began the season with the Flyers but was returned to his junior team after going without a point in four games. He had 43 points (seven goals, 36 assists) in 38 games with Brantford and Guelph this season, and seven points (two goals, five assists) in 15 OHL playoff games.

“He looks fast out there,” Tocchet said. “There’s some other elements to the game he’s going to improve this summer. Could be a possibility.”

Regardless of who plays, Tocchet is trying to keep the focus on the opportunities other players are going to get rather than the holes created without Cates in the lineup.

“These are bumps in the road we’re going to have to deal with, but there’s opportunity for guys,” he said.