PHILADELPHIA, Pa- With the Stanley Cup Playoffs just over a week away, the New York Islanders hoped to clinch a playoff position with a win against the Philadelphia Flyers Tuesday night.
Facing off three times prior to Tuesday’s contest, the Islanders have taken a win in all three games. Last meeting on February 5th, the Islanders took the 3-2 win in the shootout.
Guarding the pipes for the Flyers, Steve Mason took his stance. Standing tall across the ice, Jaroslav Halak geared up.
Image by Lewis Bleiman
Dropping the gloves early in the first period, Ryan Whites and Eric Boulton squared off. Adding 2 minutes to his 5 minutes major, White received a unsportsmanlike conduct minor.
Delaying the game less than a minute later, defenseman Nicklas Grossmann took a seat next to White in the penalty box, giving the Islanders 5 on 3 chance. Unable to produce, the game remained goalless.
Earning a man advantage of their own, Flyers went to work. Just 36 seconds later, Johnny Boychuck was guilt of tripping, sending the Flyers on 5 on 3 power play. Wasting no time at all, Flyers Captain Claude Giroux found the puck on his stick.
Image by Lewis Bleiman
Sending the puck into Halak, Giroux scored his 24th goal of the season.
Continuing his scoring streak, Giroux received the puck from Mark Streit. Taking the shot just in front of the blue line, the puck went flying. Netting in his 2nd goal of the night, Giroux tallied his 25th.
As the first period came to an end, the Flyers had the 2-0 lead and were out shot by the Islanders 15-10.
Called for hooking, Mark Streit took a timeout in the sin bin, sending the Islanders on their fourth power play chance of the game.
Rushing into the Flyers zone, John Tarvares had the puck on his stick. Sneaking the puck past Mason, the captain tallied his 36th of the season.
Image by Lewis Bleiman
Getting back on the score board, Vincent Lecavalier sent the puck in front of the net to Pierre-Edouard Bellemare. Tapping in the puck in between the pipes, Bellemare lit the lamp for his 6th of the season.
With the clock clicking down to zero, the Flyers held onto the 3-1 lead.
Coming out for the final 20 minutes, Flyers went to work.
Receiving the pass from Zac Rinaldo, Carlo Colaiacovo notched his 2nd goal of the season, increasing the Flyers lead 4-1.
Cutting the score in half midway through the third, Anders Lee scored his 24th.
Image by Lewis Bleiman
Guilty of roughing late in the period, Michael Raffl took a seat in the penalty box. Unable to control the puck, the Islanders came out empty handed.
With time expiring in the third period, defenseman Johnny Boychuk skated into the Flyers zone. Netting in his 9th with less than 90 seconds left, Islanders were down my one.
But the Islanders did not stop there.
Tying the game with 28 seconds on the clock, Lee lit the lamp for the 25th time this season.
With one last face off in the Islanders zone with seconds remaining, Brayden Schenn found the frozen puck on his stick. Sending the puck into Halak, Schenn scored with 2 seconds on the clock.
Image by Lewis Bleiman
The Philadelphia Flyers took the 5-4 win over the New York Islanders.
After being named NHL’s 2nd star of the week and earning his 17th goal of the season against the Islanders, Schenn said, “You’re not thinking that one’s going in from the position I was on the ice, but you never know.” He continued, “I guess that’s what happens when you put pucks on net. Sometimes you get a lucky one, and I’ll take those any day.”
Thinking his club was heading into overtime, Flyers head coach Craig Berube said, “I wasn’t even paying attention. I looked up and it’s going in. Things happen. That’s why I always tell these guy, put the puck on net, you never know. Never know.” He said, “Other than a couple minutes there, it was a pretty solid game and effort from everyone. We were ready to go and it was big effort from them.”
With Pittsburgh Penguins losing against the Ottawa Senators and the Islanders unable to gain point against the Flyers, both the Penguins and Islanders continued to fight to clinch a playoff position.
What’s next for Philadelphia? With two games remaining in their season, the Flyers will welcome the Carolina Hurricanes Thursday at the Wells Fargo Center.
Puck drop between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Philadelphia Flyers is slated for 7 p.m.
You must be logged in to post a comment.