Flyers stay alive, keep Isles from moving closer Win keeps pace with Boston

PHILADELPHIA – The Flyers needed a win Thursday night, they need a win every night right now, to keep pace with the Boston Bruins who currently own the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.

Steve Mason got win over the Isles Thursday night

“It’s tough when you see everyone else is winning,” Flyers forward Dale Weise said. “We’re just trying to control what we can control and win out here. It’s all you can do.”

Steve Mason made 38 saves Thursday to help the Flyers defeat the New York Islanders, 6-3.

The Islanders in the same position as the Flyers, win out and hope fro help from above.

The Flyers struck five times in the first period for a 5-0 lead after twenty minutes.

“We had a great first period,” Flyers coach Dave Hakstol said. “We were ready at the start and we got rewarded for it.”

New York closed the gap after tightening up the defense, to 5-3 but the rally fizzled late in the third with a goal from Valtteri Filppula to make it 6-3.

Radko Gudas, Sean Couturier, Wayne Simmonds, Weise, and Jordan Weal  scored in the first period for Philadelphia.

Isles coach Doug Weight was befuddled by the effort in the first period.

“It’s floating, not engaged with anything,” Weight said. “Just floating through the [defensive] zone, floating through the neutral zone, and then all of a sudden we’re like, ‘Oh, we’re in one here.’ I wish I had more to tell you.”

Cal Clutterbuck, Jason Chimera and Andrew Ladd were the Isles goal scorers.

WATCH: All Islanders vs. Flyers highlights

Jaroslav Halak mopped up in the game after Thomas Greiss was given the hook just eight minutes into the game after yielding three goals on just six shots.

“We did good things in the second and third period but the first period wasn’t good at all,” Islanders defenseman Johnny Boychuk said. “If you can take a positive out of the last two periods, bring it through tomorrow [against the New Jersey Devils] to start the game.”

2017-3-30 NHL PHI vs NYI

2017-3-30 NHL PHI vs NYI

2017-3-30 NHL PHI vs NYI
Goalie Jaroslav Halak (#41)