PHILADELPHIA — The New York Islanders ended a scoreless game midway through extra time on Sunday evening when Nick Leddy scored at 2:23 to give the Isles a 1-0 win over the Flyers.
New York Islanders Nick Leddy #2 and Jordan Eberle #7 celebrate beating the Philadelphia Flyers in the overtime period.The loss hurt the Flyers’ chase for fourth playoff spot in the east division.
“I think it was more of a fortuitous bounce than anything,” Leddy said. “I was just trying to get it over to ‘Ebs.’ I heard him yelling for it and just tried to get it over to him as quick as possible. It ended up a nice lucky bounce through Elliott’s legs.”
Ilya Sorokin made 30 saves to get the win.
“We don’t win that hockey game if he doesn’t have that first period he did,” Islanders head coach Barry Trotz said. “We were slow out of the gates, we weren’t sharp, weren’t committed to the battle. You need your goaltender to sometimes steal you a game.
The win snapped a two-game skid for New York.
“It’s all about how you’re feeling, if you’re in [good] physical condition,” Sorokin said. “If you’re tired, it’s hard [to play] two games in a row, but now I feel good. And I can play more.”
The Flyers dropped to 20-18-7, and are five points back of the New York Rangers for the fifth spot in the division and nine back of the Boston Bruins.
“The first and second periods we had some great looks,” Flyers head coach Alain Vigneault said. “Their goaltender made some real big saves at the right time. In my estimation, we had enough looks in those two periods to get a couple. We didn’t.”
New York improved to 28-13-4.
“I think if you look at the game and the chances we had, we had quite a few 2-on-1’s,” Leddy said. “We had chances to score, we just weren’t fortunate enough to do it. But it goes back to Ilya keeping us in the game all night. He played amazing.”
Brian Elliott made 27 saves in the hard luck loss.
“We did all the right things we talked about in the locker room,” Elliott said. “That’s what makes a game like this tough, where you do so many things right and you come away with just one point.”
Jordan Eberle #7 of the New York Islanders score in the overtime period
Scott Laughton #21 of the Philadelphia Flyers chases the puck over Ilya Sorokin #30 and Andy Greene #4 of the New York Islanders
Brock Nelson #29 of the New York Islanders shot is blocked by Brian Elliott #37 of the Philadelphia Flyers
Wade Allison #57 of the Philadelphia Flyers and Andy Greene #4 of the New York Islanders
Wade Allison #57 of the Philadelphia Flyers and Andy Greene #4 of the New York Islanders takes up position in front of Islander GoalieIlya Sorokin #30
Ilya Sorokin #30 of the New York Islanders makes a save along the shaft of his stick.
Philadelphia Flyers Joel Farabee #86 and James van Riemsdyk #25 battle with New York Islanders players as GoalieIlya Sorokin #30 makes a pad save.
Philadelphia Flyers and New York Islanders players engage in a little pushing and shoving at the end of the first period.
Wade Allison #57 of the Philadelphia Flyers
Scott Laughton #21 of the Philadelphia Flyers react after being hit by the puck.
Nick Leddy #2 of the New York Islanders
Travis Sanheim #6 of the Philadelphia Flyers checks Oliver Wahlstrom #26 of the New York Islanders
James van Riemsdyk #25 of the Philadelphia Flyers deflect the puck against Ilya Sorokin #30 of the New York Islanders
You must be logged in to post a comment.