After jumping out to a 3-0 lead, things got interesting as the Philadelphia Flyers (13-7-3) found themselves in a tie game with the New York Islanders (13-9-3). Fortunately, they were able to settle down and earn the 4-3 victory in shootout fashion.
“Yeah, I mean we’re up 3-0,” said head coach Rick Tocchet. “Obviously the second [period] was a little bit… you know, some penalties, couple of misfortunate plays. But you know, like I said, [the team] hung in there. A little bit ugly, but give the guys credit for scratching and clawing. You know, that’s a big two points for us.”
It was a big two points indeed to put the Flyers back in playoff position. Philadelphia currently possesses the second Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference after Friday’s slate of games.
FIRST PERIOD
Score: 2-0 PHI
Shots: 6-3 NYI
The Flyers didn’t generate much in the first period, but boy, did they ever capitalize on the few chances they were given. Tyson Foerster nabbed the icebreaker with 11:30 to go after a Travis Konecny pass attempt found the stick of Emil Heineman but the Islanders forward couldn’t corral the puck. Foerster collected it, skated in, and wired one past David Rittich for his 9th goal of the season.
Just 22 seconds later, another Islanders mistake spelled good fortune for Philadelphia as Sean Couturier received an absolute gift from old friend Tony DeAngelo and shot it off the post and in past Rittich to double the lead.
SECOND PERIOD
Score: 3-3
Shots: 19-15 NYI
Trevor Zegras decided to join the party, albeit accidentally, early in the middle frame. Zegras’ pass attempt, either to Emil Andrae or Matvei Michkov near the net, caromed off the right skate of Ryan Pulock and in to make it 3-0 in favor of Philadelphia.
The Islanders would respond just under 4 minutes later as Heineman scored after a nifty play between himself, Jonathan Drouin, and Kyle Palmieri set up his 10th tally of the season.
However, this goal should not have counted as the Islanders had too many men on the ice when Palmieri touched the puck, but the officials didn’t catch them and the play resulted in a goal.
The Islanders began to find their rhythm again quickly after the goal and Sam Ersson had to come up huge in short order.
The Islanders just wouldn’t go away however, and rookie sensation Matthew Schaefer rifled one far side on Ersson to cut the deficit to one at the 8:11 mark of the period.
For Schaefer, it was his 8th goal of the season and he became the first teenage defenseman in NHL history to rack up 8 goals in his first 25 games.
As the period wound down with the Flyers on a power play, Konecny was called for a very soft holding penalty, setting up the Islanders with a late man advantage after a brief 4-on-4 stint. Anders Lee made the most of the opportunity and the Islanders captain got the last touch on a Schaefer point shot to tie the game at 3-3.
THIRD PERIOD
Score: 3-3
Shots: 28-20 NYI
The Flyers weren’t giving up many chances to the Islanders but they also weren’t generating anything in the offensive zone, either.
New York did have a golden opportunity with under 7 minutes to play. Anthony Duclair made easy work of Noah Juulsen and drew Nick Seeler towards him for a wide open setup to Calum Ritchie. Fortunately for the Flyers’ third pair, Ersson came up large again with a game-saving stop.
Unfortunately, Michkov high-sticked Ritchie after his shot and drew blood, setting the Islanders up for a four-minute power play late in the period. But the Flyers were able to kill off the entire penalty and this game would head to overtime.
OVERTIME
Score: 3-3
Shots: 31-21 NYI
The Flyers mustered just one shot on goal while the Islanders registered three, including a one-timer from Bo Horvat that Ersson fought off.
Zegras had Philadelphia’s best chance on a 2-on-1 with Christian Dvorak approaching the final minute, but his shot took off past the blocker of Rittich. This contest would take a shootout to decide a winner.
SHOOTOUT
Zegras continued his magic and beat Rittich to open the shootout with a beauty on the backhand.
Simon Holmström would even it up in the second round, but then Konecny went to work and fired a dart through Rittich to reclaim the lead.
Ersson then did what he does best and shut down Horvat to preserve the victory for the Flyers on Long Island.
3 STARS OF THE GAME: 1) Trevor Zegras – PHI, 2) Matthew Schaefer – NYI, 3) Sean Couturier – PHI
UP NEXT
The Flyers are right back at it on Saturday night when they take on the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center (7:00pm ET; NBCSP).
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