The top-ranked Philadelphia Flyers faced off against the only Eastern team to get this far out of the qualifying rounds in the New York Islanders. The lower-seeded Islanders would prove to be more than enough for the higher-seeded Flyers though, as the Flyers needed wins in overtime to make this a series. New York won out in the end though, eliminating Philadelphia in seven and moving on to the Conference Finals.
Games
New York Islanders - 4
Philadelphia Flyers - 0
The Islanders were on the attack early, first the first few shots of the game. Their efforts paid of just over six minutes in, as Andy Greene fired one through a crowd of players and past a screened Carter Hart. The Flyers had a chance to tie moments later, but Kevin Hayes would lose control of the puck while attempting to deke Semyon Varlamov on a breakaway. It was mostly New York after that, as the Islanders looked to extend their lead. Their best chance came with 5:29 left, as Brock Nelson got a pass by the side of the net. Hart had other ideas though, as the Flyers goaltender reached over with his glove to deny a sure goal. Roles reversed in the second, as it was Philadelphia who dominated the shot counter. Despite that, the Flyers could not solve Varlamov. Early in the third, Jean-Gabriel Pageau would convert on a chance in the slot to double the Islanders lead. About midway through the third, a counter attack by New York resulted in a tic-tac-toe play that was finished off by Anders Lee. Now down by three, Philadelphia played with urgency, even pulling Hart for an extra attack with just under eight minutes to play. It would backfire almost immediately, as Devon Toew's clearing attempt bounced off a stanchion and slide into the empty net. Varlamov stayed perfect throughout the game, stopping 29 shots in the shutout effort. The 4-0 win gave New York the first game of the series.
New York Islanders - 3
Philadelphia Flyers - 4 (OT)
It didn't take the Flyers long to get things going in this one. Just under two minutes into the game, Hayes would wrist a shot that bounced off the crossbar and into the back of the net. Hayes was at it against midway through the period. Skating into the Islanders zone, the Flyers forward would skate around a couple of defenders and take a shot on net. The puck bounced off of the arm of Varlamov before crossing the goal line. Sean Couturier added to the lead later in the period, deking pass Nick Leddy and Varlamov before sliding the puck into the net. That was it for Varlamov, as Thomas Greiss took over the Islanders net. A powerplay midway through the second period was the break New York needed. Barzal's pass was redirected by Lee and past Hart, breaking the Flyers goaltender's shutout. It wasn't until halfway through the third when the Islanders struck again. A give-and-go with Anthony Beauvillier and Josh Bailey resulted in the former 's shot sneaking under the blocker of Hart. New York continued to press, looking to tie the game. Lee got a good chance later in the period, but his shot rang off the crossbar. Just over two minutes left in regulation, a turnover in the Flyers zone resulted in Pageau getting the puck in the slot. The Islanders forward made no mistake, snapping it over the glove of Hart to tie the game. Philadelphia challenged the play of offside, but were unsuccessful. The ensuing powerplay didn't amount to much for the Islanders, as regulation ended at 3-3. Overtime was needed to determine a winner. The extra frame would not last too long. After a flurry in front of the Islanders net, the puck would go to Philippe Myers at the point. The Flyers defenseman's shot bounced off an Islanders' stick and past Greiss' arm. The win was needed for Philadelphia, as they tied the series at a game a piece.
Philadelphia Flyers - 1 Roles reversed a bit to start the game, as it was Philadelphia who got then first few shots of the game. They did keep this momentum up for most of the period with their efforts playing off in the latter-half. Tyler Pitlick got the Flyers on the board, wristing a shot past a screened Varlamov and just inside the post. New York had some pressure late in the period, but Hart was there to deny any opportunity, highlighted by a glove save on Nelson. The intermission did little to deter the Islanders momentum, as they continued to press in the second. It took just over seven minutes into he middle frame, but New York finally broke through Hart. Barzel would find Matt Martin in the slot, and the Islanders forward quick shot found a way to sneak by Hart and trickle into the net. While the period looked to remain tied going into the second intermission, New York had other ideas. After reaching to keep the puck onside, Derick Brassard circled around the net and found Leo Komarov in the slot. Komarov's backhand snuck through Hart and just past the goal line to give New York the lead. A powerplay early in the third helped New York extend their lead, as Lee's backhand bounced off the stick of Hart and into the net. Philadelphia started to take over, looking to comeback. Despite a powerplay late in the period and an extra attacker, the Flyers efforts would be all for naught. The Islanders hung on for the 3-1 win, retaking the lead in the series.
New York Islanders - 3
Philadelphia Flyers - 2 The game got rough early on, as a scrum resulted in coincidental minors for Casey Cizikas and Travis Konecny. Despite the ice being more open (along with both teams swapping penalties later in the period), neither team could get on the scoreboard. Both Greiss and Brian Elliott stayed perfect through 20 minutes. Just under seven minutes into the second, Nelson broke the deadlock, as he snapped it pass the blocker of Elliott, putting New York on the board. Philadelphia started to take over from there, and were eventually rewarded for doing so. Later in the period, a Justin Braun point shot was redirected by Couturier past a screened Greiss and into the net, tying the game for the Flyers. A couple late chances by the Flyers were denied by Greiss, as the game remained tied after 40 minutes. New York got a few chances early in the third, but it took a bit for them to convert on one. Just over seven minute in, Pageau breakaway's attempt looked to have been stopped by Elliott, but the puck found a way though and trickled past the goal line to put the Islanders back in the lead. About four minutes later, a 2-on-1 saw Nelson tap a return pass from Bailey into the Flyers net. Once again, Philadelphia found themselves down two goals with not much time to spare. Ivan Provorov helped pull the Flyers to within once, as this point shot found a way to go untouched through a crowd and past an unsuspecting Greiss. That was as close as they got though, as once again the Islanders hung on to win the game.
New York Islanders - 3
New York Islanders - 3
Philadelphia Flyers - 4 (OT)
Philadelphia Flyers - 5 (2OT)
The Flyers made it official before the game, as after months of cancer treatment, Oskar Lindbolm was slotted in the lineup to play. While it was New York leading the shot counter early on, Philadelphia was the first to get on the scoreboard. Halfway through the first, Hayes' wrist shot went over the blocker of Varlamov and under the crossbar to make it 1-0 Flyers. Moments later, a blast by van Riemsdyk went underneath Varlamov's glove en route to the net, doubling the Flyers lead. The Islanders came back with a couple of chances, but Hart denied them. New York would get one back before the period ended though, as Brassard redirected a pass from Devon Toews, finding the back of the Flyers net as a result. The Islanders struck early in the second, as Martin finished off a 3-on-2 to tie the game. The Flyers did challenge the goal, as Cizikas slid into Hart during the play. The goal would stand though, and once again the Flyers found themselves shorthanded due to an unsuccessful challenge. New York capitalized on the man advantage, as Lee snapped a rebound past a sliding Hart to give the Islanders the lead. It took 10 minutes, but the Flyers managed to tie the game. Nicolas Aube-Kubel's long range shot was stopped, but Michael Raffl was in the slot to clean up the rebound. New York put on the pressure, looking to regain the lead. With half-a-minute left in the second, Barzal wrist a shot through the legs of a Flyers defender and over the shoulder of Hart, restoring the Islanders lead. Midway through the third, the game would be tied once again. Giroux sprung Laughton on a breakaway, and the Flyer's forward would deke out Varlamov and lift it over the downed goalie's pad to bring the game back to even. Despite the Islander's effort, no go-ahead goal would happen this time. For the third time in the series, overtime was needed. The extra frame didn't solve anything, as both teams failed to find the winning goal. For the first time this series, second overtime was needed. A scramble in the Islanders crease early on almost resulted in a goal, but Varlamov's pad was in the right place to keep the puck out of the net. Late in the period, a broken stick by Scott Mayfield wound up being the beginning of the end of this game. Hayes pounced on the loose puck and raced into the Islanders zone. He found a trailing Provorov, who released a shot that found it's way past a screened Varlamov and into the Islanders net. Once again an OT win help the Flyers stave off elimination.
New York Islanders - 4
New York Islanders - 4
Philadelphia Flyers - 0
Three Thoughts on the Series
- Having a plane fly over the hub city to cheer on the team was a nice touch.
- The Islanders just can't let go of their 80's dynasty.
- Matt Martin ne parle pas francais.
Picture of the Series
It was nice to see Oskar Lindbolm making a return and getting to play a few games after successful cancer treatment.
Highlight of the Series
Give Clutterbuck credit, this was a nice assist on Brassard's goal.
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