Flyers vs Islanders Recap: Explosive 2nd period was enough to cling onto win

The Flyers entered last night/s matchup vs the Islanders in a must win situation. Philadelphia looks to rebound after a sloppy effort against the Penguins Tuesday. The Islanders came into last night vs the Flyers out of a playoff spot for the first time in 3 weeks. New York looks to rebound after a 5-1 loss at home to the Bruins on Tuesday.

Flyers Lineup

Giroux – Couturier – Konecny

Raffl – Filppula – Voracek

Weal – Patrick – Simmonds

Leier – Laughton – Weise

Provorov – Gostisbehere

MacDonald – Hagg

Manning – Gudas

Starter – Elliott

Backup – Neuvirth

Scratches

?? – Goulbourne (Travel Issues)

15 – Lehtera

6 – Sanheim

1st Period Notes…

The game starts with both teams knowing what is at stake. Both teams battling for a playoff spot, came out physical with 2 hits by each team in the 1st minute of the game. More to come on this physical battle later.

Just over 4 minutes into the 1st, the Flyers had great offensive zone pressure off a good defensive play by Nolan Patrick. Patrick tracked up the boards well, stealing the puck on a poke-check before the Islander player left the zone. It led to the Flyers 5th shot of the night already.

Then, with about 13:00 minutes remaining in the period, Jordan Weal was tripped up exiting the zone. However, the power-play didn’t officially start till about a minute later after the Flyers held the puck and got a couple good scoring chances with the goalie pulled.

But, about a minute into the actual power-play, the Flyers struck. Sean Couturier tipped home a Jake Voracek shot to put the Flyers ahead 1-0. The goal is Couturier’s 19th on the season.

A beautiful re-direction from Sean Couturier! pic.twitter.com/Axq5A9e3Cr

— Flyers Nation (@FlyersNation) January 5, 2018

The game leveled off a little after the goal. However, it ramped back up in a big way. After a monstrous hit by Travis Konecny on Islanders Shane Prince, Prince got up and tracked down Konecny to challenge for a fight. Konecny obliged and he dumped Prince after a couple good punches.

https://twitter.com/BarstoolJordie/status/949075022437642241

However, it was the Islanders who got the energy from the fight. Just about 4 minutes after the fight, after Clutterbuck just missed on a 3v1 rush off the post, he re-directed a Nick Leddy shot for the goal. 1-1.

The period ended smoothly afterwards. 1-1 after 1st.

Scoring

11:22 Flyers Sean Couturier Assists Jake Voracek & Claude Giroux (PP Goal)

4:23 Islanders Cal Clutterbuck Assists Nick Leddy & Dennis Seidenburg

Penalties

12:17 Islanders Dennis Seidenberg 2 mins Hooking

8:56 Flyers Travis Konecny 5 mins Fighting

8:56 Islanders Shane Prince 5 mins Fighting

Shots

Flyers – 11

Islanders – 6

2nd Period Notes…

It may be cold outside, but the Flyers came out red hot to start the 2nd. Just 1:36 into the 2nd, the Flyers broke the tie. Michael Raffl deflected home a Ivan Provorov shot for the goal. 2-1 Flyers.

Then, just 40 seconds later, the Flyers scored again. This time it was Wayne Simmonds, who put home a rebound off a Robert Hagg shot. 3-1 Flyers.

The Flyers wouldn’t stop there. Just over the 5 minute mark, Andrew MacDonald was caught up high by an Islanders stick. Flyers to a 4 minute power-play. However, just 50 seconds in, the Flyers lost one of their best power-play forces, Sean Couturier, after he was whistled for a roughing penalty. Couturier did nothing wrong. Clutterbuck was annoyed that he didn’t get a call in the corner and jumped Couturier at the blue-line. Referee’s saw it differently.

However, that didn’t hinder the Flyers in any way. Just 38 seconds later, Provorov scored on the power-play. 4-1 Flyers.

But, with 7:34 left in the 2nd, the Islanders would get one back. Off of a juicy rebound given up by Brian Elliott on a Shane Prince shot, Cal Clutterbuck put home the rebound for his 2nd of the night. 4-2 Flyers.

However, just a 1:30 later, Sean Couturier hit Travis Konecny with a lob pass to send him in on a break-away. Konecny deked with his shoulder and fired a shot by Greiss, 5-2 Flyers.

What a pass from Couturier and a finish from Konecny! pic.twitter.com/Fs3QOk0Te7

— Sons of Penn (@SonsofPenn) January 5, 2018

The Flyers controlled the rest of the period. Period ends 5-2 Flyers.

Scoring

18:24 Flyers Michael Raffl Assists Ivan Provorov & Shayne Gostisbehere

17:44 Flyers Wayne Simmonds Assists Robert Hagg & Jordan Weal

13:36 Flyers Ivan Provorov Assists Nolan Patrick & Brandon Manning

7:34 Islanders Cal Clutterbuck Assists Shane Prince & Dennis Seidenburg

6:04 Flyers Travis Konecny Assists Sean Couturier

Penalties

14:51 Islanders Tanner Fritz 4 mins Double Minor High Sticking

14:04 Flyers Sean Couturier 2 mins Roughing

14:04 Islanders Cal Clutterbuck 2 mins Roughing

Shots (Total)

Flyers – 14 (25)

Islanders – 8 (14)

3rd Period Notes…

The one thing the Flyers had to avoid was a sloppy start to the 3rd. And what do they do? A sloppy start to the 3rd. The Islanders came out firing and the Flyers fell back into a shell and tried to hold on for dear life.

But, just over 5 minutes into the 3rd, the Flyers scored on the power-play. The Islanders got a power-play because Scott Laughton got called for a weak hooking penalty. 5-3 Flyers.

However, it would be the Flyers chance next. After drawing a tripping penalty, Sean Couturier passed up his 20th goal on an empty net for a pass that was deflected away. Couturier not shooting was the best chance the Flyers had the whole power-play.

The game settled down a little, but the Islanders would pounce next. Going coast to coast was Islanders Ryan Pulock, who beat Elliott high glove side. 5-4 Flyers 5:25 left.

But, on the next face-off, the Flyers would lose their best defensive forward, Sean Couturier. Couturier laid a huge hit on Islander Andres Lee. Couturier was then challenged by Islander Josh Bailey. Not a good idea with only 5:10 left.

The Islanders pulled Greiss with 1:41 left. Over the next minute, the Islanders had 4 scoring chances. None bigger than a net mouth scramble that somehow the puck never found the back of the net.

Then, with 50 seconds left in the 3rd, the fun started. With the puck being fired into the far corner, Andrew MacDonald was tripped by Islanders Andrew Ladd. But, as the puck was cleared up the boards before the whistle, a scrum broke out. Leading to Scott Laughton fighting Jordan Eberle. Flyers to the PP for the Ladd trip.

Before the next face-off, Simmonds had words with Islanders Clutterbuck. The referees weren’t having it and sent both to the locker-room early with 10 minute misconduct.

Provorov scores an EN power-play goal. Game ends 6-4 Flyers.

Scoring

13:58 Islanders John Tavares Assists Nick Leddy & Mathew Barzal

5:25 Islanders Ryan Pulock Unassisted

0:13 Flyers Ivan Provorov Assists Claude Giroux & Jake Voracek

Penalties

14:38 Flyers Scott Laughton 2 mins Hooking

13:10 Islanders Andrew Ladd 2 mins Tripping

5:10 Flyers Sean Couturier 5 mins Fighting

5:10 Islanders Josh Bailey 5 mins Fighting

0:50 Islanders Andrew Ladd 2 mins Tripping

:50 Flyers Scott Laughton 5 mins Fighting