Here we are, second game in as many nights for the 7,396th time this year. Sure, that’s actually impossible due to only 82 games being on the slate, but you get the point. The Flyers kick off a mini road-trip of sorts, taking on the New York Islanders.
New York sits in a tie with Columbus for third in the Metropolitan Division, but owns the tie-breaker. The Flyers sit one point behind both New York & Columbus, second in the wild-card standings.
The Flyers are 7-2-1 in their last 10, while the Isles are 5-3-2. Head-to-head, the Flyers are 3-4-3 against New York in their last 10 games played. The Flyers have won four of their last five games. Meanwhile, the Islanders are victorious in three of their last four.
Top-Performers
The Flyers boast three 40+ point scorers in Sean Couturier, Travis Konecny, and Jakub Voracek. Mathew Barzal & Brock Nelson are New York’s only 40+ point scorers so far this season.
Claude Giroux has played 51 career games against the Isles, and has 54 points (18g 36a) to show for it. Five of those goals come on the man-advantage, and three have been game winners.
James van Riemsdyk and Sean Couturier each have 27 points in 36 career tilts against the Islanders. JvR has 11 goals and 16 assists, while Couturier has nine goals and 18 assists.
For the Islanders, Brock Nelson and Mathew Barzal share the team-lead in points, with 45. Barzal has 18 goals and 27 assists, and Nelson has 21 goals and 24 assists.
The Goalies
The Flyers will roll out Brian Elliott, a night after Carter Hart’s stellar outing against Florida. Elliott has been having a decent season, posting a 14-6-4 record with a goals against average of 2.86 and save percentage of .901%. In 18 career appearances against the Islanders, Elliott is 8-1-7 with a 2.56 goals against average and .915 save percentage.
The Islanders sent Thomas Greiss out against the Washington Capitals Monday night, so they will roll with Semyon Varlamov Tuesday against the Flyers. Varlamov is 16-9-4 on the year, his numbers are as follows: .915sv%/2.58GAA. He’s appeared against the Flyers 10 times in his career, going 6-2-1 with a .924 save percentage and a 2.68 goals against average.
Wrap-Up & Game-Time
The Flyers find themselves on a little bit of a hot streak as of late. They’re also making a big push to slide into a playoff spot. If they want to continue this trend, a win against the Islanders Tuesday night will help them in a big way.
With a regulation win tonight, the Flyers could leap-frog Columbus and New York, sliding into third place in the Metropolitan Division. Columbus doesn’t play again until Thursday, as does New York and Philadelphia. The Flyers could maintain that position until then if they pull out a victory against the Islanders, in regulation.
Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 P.M. EST from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The game will be broadcast on NBCSP. Flyers Pre-Game Live will begin at 6:30 P.M.
Mandatory Credit – © Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
