Back from the 2023 NHL All-Star Weekend, the Philadelphia Flyers host the New York Islanders.
The Flyers are 1-1-0 in 2022-2023 versus the Islanders. Victorious at the Wells Fargo Center, 3-1, Kevin Hayes scored the game-winner. The victory immediately followed a 5-2 loss on Long Island, where Brock Nelson scored the game-winner.
Defeating the Islanders on November 29th, 2022, meant breaking a ten-game losing streak. Since then, the longest losing streak was four games, including two overtime losses.
A few cracks in the foundation began to show in the final stretch of games before the 2023 NHL All-Star Weekend. In the last five games, Philadelphia is 2-1-2. The Islanders were 2-3-0 heading into the break. In the NHL Metropolitan Division standings, both teams are in must-win scenarios.
“We’re chasing it now. This homestand will be really big for us. Hopefully we come out with all four, and then we put ourselves in a really good spot. That’s our focus.”
Joel Farabee; 2/5/2023
The Flyers are six points out of a wildcard spot. Ahead of them are the Islanders, four points away. A regulation victory could cut that lead in the standings in half. Both teams must hit the ice with a purpose, as a win is equally important. Here’s the tale of the tape tonight at the Wells Fargo Center.
New York Islanders (25-22-5)
Going into the 2023 NHL All-Star Weekend, the Islanders recently held on to a 2-1 overtime victory versus the Vegas Golden Knights. Mathew Barzal scored the game-winner with a helper from Anthony Beauvillier.
Horvat (31G, 23A) is well on his way to his best NHL season. He’s had one of his most efficient seasons on special teams. Lou Lamoriello bluntly gave his insight on the 8yr/$68mil deal, saying, ‘all I can tell you is it’s too long, and it’s too much money.’ Lamoriello added, ‘contracts these days are too long.’
Anders Lee (19G, 16A) scored once versus the Golden Knights. Lee played a physical game, established a net-front presence, and held his own in the neutral zone. He’s yet to record a point in 2022-2023 versus Philadelphia, a team who matches his physicality on the ice.
Here’s the tentative lineup for the Islanders, per Ethan Sears:
Bailey-Horvat-Barzal
Lee-Nelson-Palmieri
Parise-Pageau-Holmstrom
Martin-Cizikas-Fasching
Pelech-Pulock
Romanov-Mayfield
Aho-Dobson
Sorokin
(Varlamov)
Philadelphia Flyers (21-21-9)
The Flyers had similar success heading into the 2023 NHL All-Star Weekend. Before the break, they shut out the Winnipeg Jets on the road, 4-0, where Noah Cates scored the game-winner.
Tony DeAngelo (-16, 54BLK, 43GV, 50.1%CF) scored in the shutout victory against the Jets. He tallied seven shots, proving a heavier offensive approach than defensive. It’ll be the first time DeAngelo faces the Islanders at the Wells Fargo Center in 2022-2023, missing the recent tilt on home ice because of a lower-body injury.
Kieffer Bellows (1G) could maintain his role in the lineup. Zack MacEwen will be out five weeks after fracturing his jaw in a fight during an overtime loss to the Minnesota Wild. Before joining Philadelphia off waivers, Bellows spent his career with the Islanders. He matches the opposition’s physicality but is an outside candidate to contribute to the scoresheet.
“He [Bellows] played a pretty good game for a guy who hadn’t played in forever. If he plays and we feel he stays in the lineup, we’ll see what he is. If not, there’s other people we’ll look at, also.”
John Tortorella; 2/6/2023
Here’s the tentative lineup for the Flyers:
van Riemsdyk-Frost-Tippett
Farabee-Cates-Konecny
Hayes-Laughton-Allison
Deslauriers-Brown-Bellows
Provorov-York
Sanheim-DeAngelo
Seeler-Ristolainen
Hart
(Sandstrom)
Place Your Bets
Philadelphia Flyers moneyline (+110)
New York Islanders moneyline (-130)
Bo Horvat anytime goal (+140)
Anders Lee anytime goal (+200)
Tony DeAngelo o.5pts (+110)
Game Information
You can watch the Philadelphia Flyers host the New York Islanders tonight on NBC Sports Philadelphia. The radio broadcast is available on 97.5 the Fanatic.
(Photo by Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire)
