The Philadelphia Flyers are set to host the Carolina Hurricanes at Xfinity Mobile Arena for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Second Round. The game is scheduled for Thursday at 8 p.m. ET.
Brind’Amour Returns to Philadelphia
Rod Brind’Amour, now the coach of the Carolina Hurricanes, is returning to Philadelphia. He has been back as a player and a coach before. However, this marks his first time on the opposite side of a Stanley Cup Playoff game in Philadelphia since his time with the Flyers.
Brind’Amour anticipates a hostile reception from the home crowd. He played nine seasons for Philadelphia, amassing 235 goals in 633 games. Despite his history with the Flyers, Brind’Amour has deep ties to the Hurricanes, playing 10 seasons for Carolina and captaining their 2006 Stanley Cup championship team.
Since becoming the Hurricanes coach in 2018, he has guided them to the playoffs in eight consecutive seasons.
Tocchet and Brind’Amour: Similar Paths
Rick Tocchet will be standing behind the Flyers bench. Tocchet and Brind’Amour share similarities, both having strong connections to the Flyers. Tocchet played 11 seasons over two stints in Philadelphia, equalling Mark Recchi’s 232 goals in 621 games.
While Brind’Amour was primarily a center and Tocchet a right wing, both players were known for their tireless work ethic and competitive drive. Justin Williams, who played with Tocchet and Brind’Amour, noted their similar hard-nosed, never-back-down attitudes.
Williams said that both are willing to fight for every inch on the ice. He added that both teams are in the second round and have higher aspirations.
Coaching Matchup
The Hurricanes currently hold an advantage, having won the first two games in Raleigh. The series now shifts to Philadelphia for the next two games, where Tocchet and the Flyers aim to shift the momentum.
This series marks the first playoff coaching matchup between Brind’Amour and Tocchet. They never faced each other in the playoffs as players, and their time as Flyers teammates was brief. They were teammates for less than five months during the 1991-92 season.
While they are friendly and exchange greetings at coaches’ meetings, Tocchet indicated that they do not communicate frequently.
Brind’Amour and the Hurricanes will look to continue their series lead as they face Tocchet and the Flyers in Philadelphia.