The Philadelphia Flyers and Carolina Hurricanes are set for Game 2 of their second-round NHL playoff series on Monday, but both teams will be missing key players. Flyers forward Owen Tippett and Hurricanes defenseman Alexander Nikishin will sit out again, following their absence in Carolina's 3-0 shutout victory in Game 1.

Tippett, who led the Flyers with 28 goals and added 23 assists during the regular season, is dealing with an undisclosed injury. His speed has been a vital asset for Philadelphia, especially during their first-round series against Pittsburgh—the team's first playoff appearance since 2020—where he notched a goal and an assist. Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet confirmed before Monday's game that Tippett will be a game-time decision for Thursday's Game 3. The forward did skate on Sunday, but notably spent part of the session working separately with goalie Aleksei Kolosov while the rest of the team drilled at the other end of the ice.

On the Hurricanes' side, Nikishin continues to recover from a concussion sustained on a heavy hit during Game 4 of their first-round sweep against Ottawa on April 25. While he has been skating in practices, head coach Rod Brind'Amour noted that Nikishin didn't feel quite right before Game 1, leading to his scratch. Veteran defenseman Mike Reilly has stepped in effectively, recording two assists in the series opener. Nikishin did take warmups before being ruled out, but his status remains uncertain as the series shifts to Raleigh.

With both teams battling through injuries, the intensity of this second-round matchup is only growing. Stay tuned for updates on these key players as the series progresses.