The 5-game winning streak finally came to an end on Long Island as the Philadelphia Flyers fell to the New York Islanders, 3-2. Their woes continued on the Island as they have now dropped 10 of their last 11 and have been outscored 43-23 during that stretch.
Anders Lee got the scoring started just 1:50 into the game before Brock Nelson doubled their lead midway through the second. Cam York responded 68 seconds later to cut the deficit in half but Nelson added his 10th of the season jut 2:33 into the third period.
The Flyers would cut the deficit back to one thanks to Joel Farabee late in the third but couldn’t catch a break against Ilya Sorokin who continues to torment the Orange and Black.
Carter Hart made 22 saves, Sorokin made 34 saves, and Owen Tippett and Ryan Poehling added assists for the Flyers.
Looking to extend their lofty 5-game win streak to an even loftier 6, the Flyers travelled to Long Island to take on their divisional rivals for the first time this season and the first of 2 meetings this week – both on the road.
The Flyers have had their issues against the Islanders over the last few seasons and even though they have struggled to the tune of a 6-6-5 record, they should not be taken lightly in any manner. In their last 10 games on the Island, the Flyers were 1-7-2, were outscored 40-21, and were 0 for their last 25 power play attempts.
Marc Staal returned from his lengthy absence and was paired up with Egor Zamula as Louie Belpedio was the odd-man out. Morgan Frost remained a healthy scratch and the offensive lines remained the same. Carter Hart returned between the pipes looking to improve on his 6-3-0 record, 2.40 G.A.A, and .919 SV%.
As for the Islanders, they just recently snapped their 7-game losing streak that included 3 losses in overtime. Mathew Barzal and Noah Dobson paced the club with 15 points through 17 contests, Bo Horvat followed them with 14 points, Brock Nelson led the way with 8 goals, and Ilya Sorokin was opposite of Hart tonight with a 4-3-4 record, 3.32 GAA, and a .906 SV%.
FIRST PERIOD
The struggling captain of the New York Islanders who entered tonight’s contest with just 2 goals and 3 points in 17 games to start the year opened the scoring just 1:50 into the game after whacking away near the post and in the blue paint.
The play started from their own zone after they won a defensive faceoff. They cleared the puck around the boards but Egor Zamula wasn’t able to control it, which allowed Oliver Wahlstrom to get it further into the offensive zone.
Marc Staal was able to corral the loose puck first but turned it over to Wahlstrom who pushed it further to Anders Lee who was situated behind the net. He walked up to near post and whacked away a few times before finding light between the post and the pad for his 3rd of the season and 2nd in 3 games.
The early goal for the Islanders marked the first time that the Flyers had trailed in 6 games
After Joel Farabee was pushed into his own post, pushing and shoving unravelled for both clubs but primarily between Farabee and Lee with the former landed an extra shot over the latter, which earned him an extra minor as the Islanders received the first power play of the game.
The 13th-ranked penalty kill of the Flyers won the battle against the 10th ranked power play of the Islanders with a strong kill. The Islanders had a few chances but the always aggressive Flyers had a couple chances of their own.
The Islanders started the first period very well, scoring the first goal and firing 7 shots in the first half but the Flyers regrouped and found their offensive ways again but couldn’t get anything through Ilya Sorokin. The Islanders led the way with a 9-8 shot advantage, while the Flyers had the edge in the faceoff dot (10-7) and hits (8-7).
SECOND PERIOD
Before the period started, Jim Jackson and Scott Hartnell pointed out that the Flyers had not won a game this season when they didn’t score the first goal, being one of only two teams without a comeback victory this season. The Flyers were 10-1 when scoring the first goal, however, posting the most wins in that category.
2:52 into the second period, Owen Tippett had his helmet knocked off by Wahlstrom, sending them onto the power play for the first time, having connected on 3 of their last 8 opportunities. Jean-Gabriel Pageau had a golden opportunity in the slot that was stopped by an aggressive Hart before the quarterback of the 2nd unit, Sean Walker, had a few chances of his own in the slot that were denied by Sorokin.
Way behind the play with 10:28 left to play in the second period, Nicolas Deslauriers was guilty of a roughing minor after shoving Scott Mayfield – who ripped Deslauriers’ helmet off after a clean check. As the whistle was blown, Garnet Hathaway and Barzal both received coincidental minors as well.
1:15 into the penalty kill, Walker walked in on an odd-man rush before ripping a seed of a shot off the post. The rebound went directly to the Islanders, who went from defense to offense in a split second. Walker raced back and handled Pageau into the boards, much to the chagrin of the Islanders who got away with a few retaliatory slashes.
6:50 left to play in the middle frame, Brock Nelson added to his team-lead in goals with his 9th after the Flyers failed to get the puck of the zone. A simple point shot from Adam Pelech was deflected by Nelson who was left unmarked with Zamula in the faceoff dot, Laughton in front of Nelson, and Staal in no-man’s land between two Islanders and Hart.
As Jim Jackson eloquently noted, “persistence pays off,” as Cam York was able to follow his own rebound after being robbed by Sorokin for his 3rd goal of the season with 5:40 left to play.
Tippett started the play with a great opportunity in the slot, they eventually cycled around before Tippett made his way into the middle of the ice, received the puck and fired a laser of a pass to York who was streaking in. York did just enough to get his stick on his own rebound for the finish.
After falling to a 2-0 deficit, the Flyers didn’t back down as they kicked it up a notch and recorded 8 straight shots before Nelson created a scoring chance near the end of the period.
The Islanders took a 2-1 lead into the third period, the Flyers held a 22-21 shot advantage, while the Islanders took it to the Flyers in the faceoff dot winning 15 of 19 draws in the period.
THIRD PERIOD
2:33 into the final 20 minutes of regulation, the Islanders jumped to a 3-1 lead after Pierre Engvall found Nelson back-door for his 2nd goal of the game and 10th of the season.
Pelech walked into the zone and shoveled a pass to Engvall, who then threaded the needle to find Nelson for the easy finish. Staal was used as a decoy on the play as his return to the lineup was a rough one being on the ice for all 3 goals.
The Flyers threw everything including the kitchen sink towards Sorokin in the third period but up was keeping everything out of the net. His .944 SV% against the Flyers throughout his career entering tonight was the best of any goaltender and it only got better throughout the game.
However, the Flyers never wavered and after a massive check from Hathaway on Noah Dobson, the Flyers cycled around the zone before Bobby Brink walked into the slot and fired a pass to Farabee in the slot to cut the deficit to 1 with less than 4 minutes to play.
With 2:04 left to play in regulation, Carter Hart raced to the bench for the extra attacker. Unfortunately the Flyers never really set up with the extra attacker while the Islanders missed a few empty net opportunities to keep Philadelphia in the game.
Sorokin’s fantastic night kept the Flyers from extending their winning streak to 6, but it was a very solid 50-minute effort against a bitter rival who they’ll see once again on Saturday.
UP NEXT
The Flyers return home to face off against the New York Rangers on Black Friday (1:00pm ET, NBCSP, NHLN).
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