The Philadelphia Flyers suffered a tough loss in Game 2 against the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday night. They took an early 2-0 lead, but the Canes battled back to force overtime, where Taylor Hall buried a loose puck to give Carolina a 2-0 lead in the series.
But that wasn’t the only loss the Flyers felt on Monday night.
Noah Cates was spotted with a walking boot after the game, sparking speculation about the center’s status for the rest of the series. Rick Tocchet said on Tuesday that Cates was considered day-to-day before speaking with the team’s head athletic trainer, and that brought even worse news.
Cates has now been ruled out for the remainder of the Flyers’ second-round series against the Hurricanes.
Injury update: Flyers forward Noah Cates (lower-body) has been ruled out for the remainder of the series vs. Carolina.
— x – Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) May 6, 2026
Cates has flown under the radar as a strong two-way center in the NHL. His defensive prowess can’t be understated, and he hit career highs with 18 goals, 29 assists, and 47 points in his age-26 season.
Cates had four points, including a power-play goal, in eight playoff games this year.
Jackie Spiegel astutely pointed out that Cates took a shot from K’Andre Miller midway through the first period on Monday night.
Moment of the Cates injury that has knocked him out for the series: https://t.co/kX18at7PqH pic.twitter.com/PEm6cu0zrh
— Broad Street Hockey (@BroadStHockey) May 6, 2026
He stayed in the game, of course, but looked worse for wear for the remainder of that shift.
It’s a tough blow for the Flyers, especially given the injuries throughout the rest of the lineup. Owen Tippett missed Games 1 and 2 with an injury, and although he was on the ice for practice on Wednesday, his status is still up in the air for Game 3 and beyond.
Christian Dvorak is also now day-to-day with an injury, and he took a maintenance day from practice on Wednesday.
Flyers’ plans at center with Cates out
The Flyers have moved a few different guys around the lineup this series, most notably with Denver Barkey going from wing to center and Trevor Zegras shifting back to left wing with Dvorak. Barkey showed plenty of potential in his first game at center, and could look even better with more experienced linemates.
Tocchet is optimistic that Dvorak will play on Thursday night after missing Wednesday’s practice, and has him pencilled in as one of the Flyers’ four centers for Game 3.
The head coach also confirmed that Zegras would move back to center with the Flyers at home and Cates out.
Tocchet was optimistic that Dvorak will play in Game 3. So the Flyers' centers will likely be Dvorak, Zegras (back to center, Tocchet confirmed), Barkey and Couturier with Cates out.
— Charlie O'Connor (@charlieo_conn) May 6, 2026
It’s tough to get a read on what the lines might be with Dvorak taking a maintenance day and Tippett’s status still unknown, but at least we know who the four centers will be.
What that does all but confirm as well is that Jett Luchanko won’t be an option, at least not yet. The Flyers recalled him on Wednesday after his OHL season ended, and he was on the ice with the team for practice. It’ll be interesting to see if Luchanko is given a look if Dvorak can’t go in Game 3 or 4, or if the series gets extended beyond that.
For now, the Flyers need to hunker down and get ready for Game 3 on Thursday night.
