Couturier's return, winner provides compelling drama

The text buzzed into Claude Giroux's phone early Friday afternoon.

"I'm pulling a Prongs," was all the cryptic message said from Sean Couturier. 

But the Flyers' captain knew exactly what his injured teammate meant.

Prior to his team's morning skate, it was Giroux who had relayed to Couturier the story of a 2011 first-round series in which former teammate Chris Pronger made an unexpected return to the Flyers' lineup after missing the previous 21 games with a broken hand. The Flyers went on to win that Game 6 in overtime and, later, the series.

Fast forward to Friday night at PPG Paints Arena where the stakes were much the same for Giroux and Co., this time facing first-round elimination at the hands of the the Penguins.

Outscored 17-1 in their previous three losses to their cross-state rivals, there was little reason to think that Philadelphia could possibly extend the series without their top center. Couturier had sat out their Game 4 debacle, a 5-0 loss, with an apparent knee injury suffered in a practice collision with teammate Radko Gudas:

#BREAKING Our @6abc video of @NHLFlyers star Sean Couturier going DOWN at practice today after colliding with Radko Gudas. He limps off with the trainer. Claude Giroux told me "it didn't look good." So far no update from the #Flyers #NHLPlayoffs2018 #EarnTomorrow pic.twitter.com/SlfplFKjUd

— Jamie Apody (@JamieApody) April 17, 2018

Technically, Couturier had been a game-time decision for Game 5 but the 25-year-old had already made up his mind after taking part in the skate. He was "puling a Prongs."

"The emotions, the adrenaline kind of takes over," he said. "Just trying to do whatever I could to help."

In a gritty effort from the Flyers, Couturier's was clearly the gutsiest.

"Coots ... that's enough said," Shayne Gostisbehere was saying. "What he did ... he was a warrior tonight and obviously our MVP. For him to be out there, him going though what he’s going through, it’s amazing."

Analytics be damned, the Flyers' 4-2 win in Game 5 was a reminder of what makes the Stanley Cup Playoffs sport's most compelling drama no matter the opponent. Despite being outshot (32-25), outpossessed (56 to 44 percent in all situations) and taking twice as many penalties (eight to four), Philadelphia persevered:

Couturier refused to put a percentage on what capacity he was playing at -- he was clearly laboring  -- but he was good enough, apparently. His goal with 1:15 remaining in the third period went for the game-winner in what was easily the most entertaining game of what's been a mostly one-sided series.

Couturier's shot, a seemingly harmless 53-foot wrister from the blue line, hit Brian Dumoulin's skate and beat Matt Murray to the glove side:

"Lucky bounce, but we'll take them," said Couturier, a first-time Selke Trophy finalist this season after recording career highs in goals (31), assists (45) and points (76).

At this point, the Flyers are happy to take anything, but their reward is a Game 6 Sunday afternoon on home ice at the Wells Fargo Center.

For that they have Couturier to thank. It wasn't just the game-winning goal that made the comeback performance remarkable, though that was clearly part of it.

"It’s a big goal but I was more happy to get the win and keep playing," he said. 

It wasn't just the emotional lift that he provided his team, though that's part of it, too.

"He was a huge factor for us down the stretch in the third period, not just on the winning goal, but down the stretch in the third period," Dave Hakstol said. "He was pretty good."

Pretty good?

He played 16:55, about seven minutes fewer than he'd been averaging this postseason, but 6:51 of it came shorthanded. Even in the best of times, killing penalties is like skating uphill in sand with 10-pound weights strapped to your skates. Knee-buckling starts and stops just come with the territory.

"It’s pretty impressive," Giroux said. "Got a lot of respect for that guy. He’s one of our leaders. You can put him in any situation ... yeah, that’s impressive."

MATT SUNDAY GALLERY