In a new series by Philly Sports Network, we will be looking at how each guy on the Flyers’ roster fairs against the round robin and qualifying teams. Each player will be evaluated based on their points per game, as well as other factors such as average time on ice and special teams production. We will be doing this by the order of the standings. Next up, we take a look at the top performers for the Flyers against the pesky New York Islanders.
Number 5 – Jakub Voracek
A name that’s been mentioned multiple times thus far in the Flying High series, Voracek finds a decent level of success against the New York Islanders. Six goals, 27 assists, all in a matter of 42 career games against the Isles. One of those goals came on the man advantage. His plus/minus is pretty rough, but that’s getting a little too nit-picky.
In three games against the Isles this season, Voracek has one goal and one assists. While not dominant, Voracek is always a player to watch for the Flyers when they take on the Islanders.
Number 4 – James van Riemsdyk
JvR may not light the lamp like he used to, but he’s been pretty solid against the Islanders throughout his career. In 37 career games, van Riemsdyk has 11 goals and 17 assists versus New York, two of those goals being powerplay tallies. JvR averages just under 15 and a half minutes a night when facing New York, making those stats that much more impressive given the smaller amount of time spent on the ice.
JvR has faced off against the Isles thrice this season, posting two assists on an average of 15:21 on ice per night. While you’d like to see those two points in the goal column, production is production and JvR produces at a solid rate against the Islanders.
Number 3 – Ivan Provorov
Enter the defenseman. In his short career to this point, Provorov has faced the Islanders 15 times. In those 15 games, Provorov has scored four times and added five assists for a total of nine points. The best part? Three of Provy’s four goals have come on the man advantage. However, Provorov apparently, “is a weak 5v5 second-pair defender who hurts his team’s power-play substantially.” Right, Micah?
This season alone has been on par with his career numbers against the Islanders. In three games, Provorov has one goal and two assists, with his lone goal coming on the powerplay.
Let me repeat that. HIS LONE GOAL AGAINST THE ISLANDERS THIS YEAR HAS COME ON THE POWERPLAY.
Provorov is also a total minute monster against New York. Overall in his career against the Isles, Provy averages just over 24 minutes per night. This year, he averaged 25:39 per night. The guy is 23 years old and logging upwards of 24 to 25 minutes a night. That alone is astounding.
Number 2 – Sean Couturier
Once again, we stan Sean Couturier. 10 goals, 18 assists, all in a matter of 37 games against the New York Islanders. Even more impressive? His plus/minus for his career against the Isles stands at plus-15. Is this where we clamor for a Selke Trophy?
Averaging just under 18 and a half minutes against the Isles per contest, Coots finds himself as the second-best performer when competing against New York, at least in this writer’s humble opinion. The icing on the cake, literally because they’re the most recent stats we have to go from, are his three points in just as many games this season against the Islanders.
Number 1 – Claude Giroux
Is this becoming too predictable? Once again, Claude Giroux finds himself the best performing Flyer versus an individual team, and this time it isn’t really close. In 52 career games against the Isles, Giroux has 18 goals and 38 assists, totaling 56 points. Of his 18 goals, five of them have come while a man up. He’s a plus-eight in those 52 games, and averages 19:22 on ice per night as well.
This season, Giroux is at it again. In three games against New York, he has one goal and two assists. Giroux has a knack for scoring when playing the Islanders, more so than just about every team he’s played against in the NHL.
Check out our previous pieces to the Flying High Series as well…
Mandatory Credit – © Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
