New York Islanders

Islanders Capture 2-1 Series Lead with 3-1 Win Over Flyers

Published

4 years ago

August 29, 2020

A strong second period and goals from Matt Martin, Leo Komarov and Anders Lee lifted the New York Islanders to a 3-1 Game 3 victory, and 2-1 series lead over the Philadelphia Flyers.

It was Komarov’s late second-period goal that gave the Islanders their first lead of the game and helped lead to the eventual win. Derick Brassard, who was back in the lineup for the first time since Game 4 of the First Round, forced a turnover behind the Flyers net. Brassard was able to get the puck to the front of the net and Komarov’s backhander squeaked through Carter Hart.

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The goal was Komarov’s first of the playoffs and his first goal in a game since Feb. 21 against Detroit.

🚨 Leo Komarov
2-1 #Isles pic.twitter.com/blb27oy0Ah

— Here's Your Replay ⬇️ (@TheReplayGuy) August 30, 2020

Anders Lee added the Islanders third goal of the night on the power play. The goal extended Lee’s goal streak to three games and it was his sixth of the playoffs.

The Islanders bounced back with a win following a tough overtime loss in game 2. New York has not lost consecutive games int he postseason this year.

“You have that opportunity to regroup you have to understand the position that you’re in the series,” Anders Lee said about the trend. “You expect long series and you can’t dwell on the past because another game is coming. … After a loss you have to be the team that wants it the next night.”

The Islanders won a second game in the Second Round for the first time since 1993. It was the second consecutive game that the Islanders rallied from a first-period deficit.

It was a strong middle period that turned the tide of the game. The Flyers had taken the momentum in the first period, but The Islanders put up 15 shots in the second and scored twice to eliminate the 1-0 Philly lead.

“Ideally we dominate for a full 60 minutes, but that’s easier said than done,” Matt Martin said. “They’re going to have their pushes. We’re going to have ours. Obviously we’d like to get off to better starts, but we hung in there. Varly made some key saves and then we kind of regrouped in the intermission. Talked things over and came out and got to our game.”

Semyon Varlamov was back in net for the Islanders after being pulled in Game 2. Varlamov made 26 saves in the win and the Islanders continued their streak of holding opponents to less than 30 shots on net.

The Islanders finished the game with 29 shots of their own on net.

“It was an important game for us,” Varlamov said about his effort. “For our team and for me especially after Game 2. I didn’t play well. … I learned from the mistakes and had a good practice yesterday.”

Philadelphia scored the opening goal of the game with 5:42 left in the first period. Tyler Pitlick fired a shot from just above the far faceoff circle that got by Varlamov. The Islanders netminder had traffic in front of the net and couldn’t see the shot.

Martin even the game at one with a goal 7:12 into the second period. Matt Barzal was able to feed Martin in front of the net for the goal.

The goal was Martin’s third of the playoffs and continued a trend that saw the Islanders win in each game the fourth-liner has scored in.