Flyers' Sean Couturier Plays Games 5 and 6 Against Penguins With Torn MCL

This is incredible.

The Philadelphia Flyers' season is over after an 8-5 loss in Game 6 against in-state rivals Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday.

But even with the loss, the Flyers provided the league with the best story of the playoffs.

Center Sean Couturier missed Game 4 with a "lower-body injury" after colliding with teammate Radko Gudas in practice. 

But Couturier would return for the final two games of the series, fighting through the injury to post six points (four goals, two assists) in those games including a hat trick in the finale. But, as it turns out, Couturier's injury wasn't just another bruise, it was actually a torn MCL.

Couturier played with torn MCL. Said it won’t need surgery but in regular season would have been four week recovery.

— Dave Isaac (@davegisaac) April 22, 2018

I know hockey players are tough, but Couturier played Games 5 and 6 on an injury that usually takes at least four weeks to heal, and he was the best player on the team while doing so. And it's not like Couturier was playing timidly out there, he was battling to do anything in his power to force a Game 7.

I mean come on. Call one or both, but there’s gotta be a call pic.twitter.com/3HWztfJxTd

— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) April 22, 2018

🏥 Flyers’ Sean Couturier reveals he’s been playing with a torn MCL

Coots scored 4 goals in the Flyers last 4 periods and had 5 points today in Game 6 alone @6abc #Flyers #EarnTomorow pic.twitter.com/PAWoODrXqA

— Jeff Skversky (@JeffSkversky) April 22, 2018

If that isn't the definition of tough, then I don't know what is. Even with the loss, it might be hard for another player to top this performance.