In Toronto, the New York Islanders avoided a complete collapse in their second round series with the Philadelphia Flyers when Thomas Greiss made 16 saves in a 4-0 shutout win in Game 7.
“I liked the way we played, I liked our mentality today and we stayed to our identity,” Islanders head coach Barry Trotz said. “We wanted to play well on the right side of people and we got contributions through the lineup. Obviously, two defensemen scored, some really good plays, good goaltending, and our special teams were pretty good. You have a chance to win when you play like that.”
The win sends the Isles to the Eastern Conference Final for the first time since 1993.
“It was an unreal game, best game I’ve seen the team play,” Greiss said after his first Stanley Cup Playoff Game 7. “They took most of the stuff away. Happy we got the win here.”
Scott Mayfield gave the Islanders all the offense they would need with a goal in the midway through the first frame for a 1-0 lead.
“Game-winner in Game 7 to go to the Eastern Conference Final, I don’t think anyone thought I’d be scoring it,” Mayfield said. “But I had a lane and just happy I could put it away.”
Andy Greene tacked on a goal for a 2-0 lead in the second period.
“The last two games they got to [Varlamov] a little bit in terms of that, and he’s played a lot of great hockey for us,” Trotz said. “I wanted the freshness. … I also knew that with ‘Greisser,’ just his demeanor, that he’d be a good choice for us. We’ve been blessed with two goalies. You try to ride the hot guy as long as you can, and if you have to go to the next guy, you do that.”
Brock Nelson added to the lead to give the Isles a 3-0 lead heading to the third period.
“Everybody wants to score goals and get on the attack,” Nelson said. “Thought we had a pretty balanced score sheet up and down the roster. Contributions from the [defensemen] today, every line getting in on it, guys stepping up and making plays at the right time. We were doing good things to create chances and capitalize on them.”
In the end, the Flyers’ top lines’ offense disappeared.
“I really liked our start to tonight’s game,” Flyers head coach Alain Vigneault said. “I thought the first six minutes we were on our toes, we were making plays, we were playing in their end. After they scored that first goal we just never had the same bounce, had the same pop. Very disappointing to our whole group.”
Anthony Beauvillier closed out the scoring with an empty goal with less than give minutes left in regulation.
“Anytime a goalie gets a shutout in a Game 7, you’ve got to give it to him,” Mayfield said. “He played unbelievable, some big saves. Just the way he came in after not playing a couple, there was kind of some talk about who was going to be in net, and he got the nod and ran with it. Couldn’t be more happy for him. Great teammate, great guy, so I’m really happy for him.”
The Islanders will face the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Conference Final, to start on Monday.
“Game 5, Game 6 we got the job done, we were able to get some big goals, play the right way,” the Flyers’ Claude Giroux said. “Game 7 wasn’t the case.”
[WATCH: All Islanders vs. Flyers highlights]
Carter Hart made 22 saves in the loss.
Sean Couturier iced in Game 7 despite a leg injury sustained in Game 5.
“Couldn’t go last game, Game 6, but I thought I could help the team tonight and give it a go,” Couturier said.
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