Riley Nash took a Torey Krug shot to the right ear and didn’t return. Brandon Carlo was last seen exiting the ice on a stretcher after falling on his left leg. Neither traveled to Philadelphia after Saturday’s 5-1 win.

It is never good to lose two important support players with just five regular-season games remaining.

“Tough luck for Nasher and Carlo, obviously,’’ said coach Bruce Cassidy. “Not what you want right now. But we’ll see how they are.’’

Nash was on the wrong end of Krug’s second-period wrister. Nash dropped to the ice at 2:47 of the period. He skated off the ice with help from trainer Don DelNegro while holding a bandage to his bleeding right ear.

The valuable third-line center, who filled in on the top unit after Patrice Bergeron broke his right foot, played just 6:24.

At 10:28 of the third, Carlo went down awkwardly after trying to kick a loose puck up the wall. The defenseman’s left leg briefly got caught under his body when he hit the ice.

Carlo went down in front of the Zamboni entrance, which might have prompted DelNegro to call for the stretcher instead of having him limp across the ice to the bench. Carlo climbed onto the stretcher before being wheeled off.

David Backes moved to center after Nash’s exit. Either Backes or Tommy Wingels could be the No. 3 center against the Flyers. Brian Gionta was a healthy scratch on Saturday and could be in Sunday’s lineup.

Neither Zdeno Chara nor Charlie McAvoy played on Saturday. But both traveled to Philadelphia.

It’s unknown whether either will be available against the Flyers.

McAvoy 7th Player

McAvoy was the Bruins’ first-round pick in 2016. He wowed the league by making his NHL debut in the playoffs last year. Observers believe McAvoy will be contending for multiple Norris Trophies as the league’s best all-around defenseman.

Yet NESN.com voters designated McAvoy as the 7th Player Award winner, given annually to the Bruin who has exceeded expectations. McAvoy has seven goals and 25 assists in 59 games while averaging 22:06 of ice time.

Other players who could have contended for the award include Nash, Matt Grzelcyk, and Danton Heinen. Nash has a career-high 15 goals and 26 assists. Grzelcyk, who played most of October and November in Providence, has three goals and 11 assists while playing airtight defense. Heinen did not break camp with the varsity. But the rookie has 43 points, fifth most on the team.

Punching power

Adam McQuaid and Noel Acciari got the better of their opponents in their respective fights. In the second period, after the Bruins grabbed a 3-1 lead, Micheal Haley challenged McQuaid. The defenseman accepted and proceeded to feed Haley a flurry of rights.

In the third, Acciari dumped Maxim Mamin, which brought MacKenzie Weegar calling. Acciari said yes and engaged in his first career fight.

“He trucked about five guys,’’ Cassidy said of Acciari. “Sooner or later, it was going to happen. But he does it clean.’’

Acciari went without a penalty minute in his first 47 games this season.

Krejci banged up

In the second period, Weegar thumped a shot off the inside of David Krejci’s right foot. Krejci struggled to skate to the bench, then retreated to the tunnel. He walked off the pain and returned to the game. After the win, Krejci limped through the dressing room with part of his foot taped. The center was not available for comment . . . Ex-Bruin Frank Vatrano was not available for his first game as a Panther at TD Garden because of an upper-body injury. Vatrano, traded to Florida for a 2018 third-round pick, has three goals and one assist in 11 games as a Panther. He has gone scoreless in his last five games. Jake DeBrusk, Ryan Donato, and Heinen were among the wings who accelerated past Vatrano on the depth chart, making the East Longmeadow native expendable . . . Rick Nash and Sean Kuraly did not travel to Philadelphia . . . Anton Khudobin will be in net against the Flyers. The Bruins have yet to map out the remainder of Tuukka Rask’s regular-season workload prior to the playoffs. Cassidy said it would be up to Rask whether the starter would like to see some action in next weekend’s back-to-back games against Ottawa and Florida . . . Old friend Shawn Thornton visited the press box. Thornton is Florida’s vice president of business operations . . . After the game, players from both teams lined up to shake the hand of referee Tom Kowal, who was officiating his final game.

Fluto Shinzawa can be reached at fshinzawa@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @GlobeFluto.