UNIONDALE, NY – On the Island Monday afternoon, the New York Islanders managed a methodical 7-4 win over the Philadelphia Flyers.
The Isles have secure hold on the top spot in the Metropolitan Division heading into the All-Star break.
Image by Don Haas
“The thing about our hockey club is believability and trust, accountability and leadership,” Islanders coach Jack Capuano said. “I’ve said that from Day One. No one gave us a chance, and that’s why you play the game. I’m very pleased up until this point with our hockey club.”
Nikolay Kulemin had two goals, including a shortie, and three points for the afternoon’s work.
“There’s a certain way we play, a certain structure and certain thing that we do, and I would like to think that how we play guys are going to generate if we do the right things,” Capuano said. “[Kulemin’s] done those things. His play away from the puck is dictating where his offensive game is right now.”
The Flyers scored four goals for themselves, an offensive effort they have been capable of lately. But the defense was absent.
“I guess we gotta get ready before the game a little bit better, but we do a good job when they score a goal we don’t let down,” Flyers captain Claude Giroux said. “I think we played hard [Monday], just didn’t execute the way we wanted.”
Image by Don Haas
There was far too much standing around in the slot and crease area with stick-waving at Islanders.
“We gotta do a better job in front of our goalies,” Giroux said. “Our best defense is our offense, so we have to go play offensively and keep the puck down there.”
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