It has been confirmed that Chicago forward Andrew Ladd will miss game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals due to an upper body injury suffered at the end of the Wester Conference Finals against the San Jose Sharks.
“Laddy is not playing,” Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville told the media. “We do expect him to play (in the series). He’s progressing well but Kopy (Tomas Kopecky) is in tonight.”
The 24-year-old winger has just two goals and one assist in the post season but is one of only a few players on the Blackhawks to have Stanley Cup experience. He won the Cup with Peter Laviolette with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006.
For the Flyers, goaltender Brian Boucher is expected to dress in the series, beginning with game 1. He will command backup duties to starting goaltender Michael Leighton. It will be the first time Boucher will dress since spraining both knees in game 5 against the Boston Bruins.
Dan Carcillo and Andreas Nodl will be healthy scratches as Jeff Carter is expected to continue to play alongside Mike Richards and Simon Gagne. Ian Laperriere will play in his third game since a brain contusion forced him out in game 5 against the New Jersey Devils.
Phila.Bright 