Flyers mulling lineup change for Game 2 vs. Hurricanes

The Philadelphia Flyers were unable to get a single goal past Carolina Hurricanes netminder Frederik Andersen in Game 1 of their second-round series, and that will need to change if they hope to wrestle back home-ice advantage at Lenovo Center on Monday night.

One adjustment the team could be making in an effort to create more offense in Game 2 is shifting rookie Denver Barkey from the wing to center, per NHL.com’s Adam Kimelman.

The 21-year-old moved from left wing to center on a line with Alex Bump and Matvei Michkov in the second period of Saturday’s 3-0 defeat.

“It’s an adjustment,” Barkey told reporters on Sunday, per Kimelman. “But I think that’s something that I take pride in in my game, is being a versatile player, someone that can slide up and down the lineup, you can trust them in all situations, in different positions.

“That’s something that I like to have a part of my game, make sure I know what to do in all positions on the ice, and just be a reliable player that can be trusted to be put out in any situation.”

Barkey played center with the London Knights in junior, so it’s a position he’s not unfamiliar with.  Head coach Rick Tocchet said the youngster was one of the Flyers’ best players in Game 1.

“I’m not going to pinpoint which guys, but there’s four or five guys that they’ve got to be a dog on a bone,” Tocchet said. “There’s a lot of standing around, a lot of backs on the wall. … I’m praising [Barkey], but it’s more of that style of play, and that’s how Carolina plays.”

Barkey was extremely noticeable in Game 1, but along with his teammates, was unable to create the necessary level of offense against a stifling Hurricanes team.

The club certainly missed Owen Tippett, as he was unable to suit up due to an undisclosed ailment. He is considered day-to-day and was on the ice for an optional practice on Sunday, per Kimelman.

Tocchet has tried out a couple of different line combinations in Tippett’s absence, and it’ll be interesting to see how the lines look in North Carolina on Monday night.

Regardless of whether or not Tippett can get in for Game 2 — and regardless of where Barkey plays — the Flyers need to find a way to score some goals if they hope to send this series back to the City of Brotherly Love tied at one.

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