Isles keep Flyers from clinching in 5-4 win

In Brooklyn Tuesday night, the Philadelphia Flyers failed in their attempt to clinch a playoff berth with a 5-4 loss to the Islanders.

It wasn’t for lack of trying though as the Flyers rallied form a three-goal hole only to see the Isles win it on Mathew Barzal‘s second goal of the game at 13:32 of the third period.

Thomas Greiss made 27 saves in win over Flyers – file photo courtesy of Lewis Bleiman

The goal put the Isles up 5-4 and the score stayed that way.

Nolan Patrick struck twice in the third period to help the Flyers get back in a game they were woefully out of early.

“We played all year trying to be in the playoffs, and now we have a good chance of making it,” Flyers captain Claude Giroux said. “But we’ve got to earn it first.”

Giroux had a goal in the loss.

Thomas Greiss made 27 saves to pick up the win.

“It was probably two of our best periods of the year. We just didn’t give them much and we played a real smart hockey game, and we got a little scrambly,” Isles head coach Doug Weight said of the first and second periods of play. “They came out hard in the third. We had a couple of penalties, and they capitalized and started pushing it. You knew they need a win to get in, so you knew they were gonna make a big push. Fortunately, we weathered the storm. It was a little more active third than we would have liked, but the first two periods were really good.”

The Flyers are still being chased by the Florida Panthers who defeated the Nashville Predators, 2-1 to claw their way within four points of the Flyers.

Wayne Simmonds also scored for the Flyers.

John Tavares scored twice and Anthony Beauvillier added a single marker.

“I think the first two periods were a lot better hockey, the type of way we want to play,” Tavares said. “It’s something to build on for the last two (games).”

[WATCH: All Flyers vs. Islanders highlights]

Petr Mrazek made 32 saves in the loss.

“I don’t think we played well tonight, and that’s the bottom line. We’ve gone on a stretch here that’s been a [heck] of a run in terms of getting points each night. We didn’t do it tonight, so we’ve got to have a quick reset tomorrow and get back at it two nights from now,” Flyers head coach Dave Hakstol said after the loss.