THIRD TIME’S THE CHARM: Islanders Lineup, Matchups and Game Notes vs. Philly

The New York Islanders will try to keep their losing streak from reaching three games tonight when they host the Philadelphia Flyers for the second time in the last three days. They dropped their last meeting with Philadelphia on Thursday, which was the Islanders’ second consecutive loss and the first game they have dropped at home in regulation this season.

The slump has knocked the Islanders out of first place in the East Division and they sit two points back of the now-division leading Washington Capitals.

It’s been a pair of ugly second-period efforts that have sunk the Islanders in their last two games, being outscored by a combined score of 5-0 in the middle frame during that span. The islanders did manage to mount a comeback on Thursday, but gave up the go-ahead goal with 2:22 left in the game.

The New York Islanders aren’t panicking heading into tonight’s rematch with Philly, but they’re aware of the need to curtail any further losses.

“There’s certain areas that we can be better in,” Andy Greene said this morning. “At the same time it’s going to happen throughout the season. Especially, this crazy year that we’ve been playing through. I think the important thing is to not let it turn into an extended period of time. We just have to come out tonight and be ready, and play a better game.”

📹 Greene Pregame Availability 📹 pic.twitter.com/Bzkx5rFHaW

— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) March 20, 2021

The New York Islanders have been playing without Anders Lee, who had been injured against New Jersey on March 11 and is out for the rest of the season, and Noah Dobson, who is on the COVID-19 protocol list. Dobson has missed three games already and will not be in the lineup again tonight against Philadelphia.

New York has looked noticeably out of sync without the two in the lineup.

“It’s hard to replace those two, but we’re going to have to do it by committee,” Matt Martin said. “Anders is such a big part of our team. He plays in a lot of situations for us, one. From a leadership standpoint as well. Then (Dobson), the same thing. He’s grown to be a huge impact on the power play and drive a lot of offense for us and our team.

“Those aren’t easy guys to fill in for, but I do think that the guys that have come in for them have done a good job.”

📹 Martin Pregame Availability 📹 pic.twitter.com/yPbuRqX01h

— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) March 20, 2021

Sebastian Aho had come in to fill the hole left by Dobson, but Islanders head coach Barry Trotz indicated this morning that there could be two or three changes to the lineup for tonight. The Isles bench boss also said there was a chance that Thomas Hickey could get into the lineup.

Hickey hasn’t appeared in a regular-season game since the 2018-19 season.

Philadelphia will not make any changes to its lineup and Carter Hart will be back in net.

New York Islanders Lineup (Projected)

Kieffer Bellows — Mathew Barzal — Jordan Eberle

Anthony Beauvillier — Brock Nelson — Josh Bailey

Michael Dal Colle — Jean-Gabriel Pageau — Oliver Wahlstrom

Matt Martin — Casey Cizikas — Cal Clutterbuck

Adam Pelech — Ryan Pulock

Nick Leddy — Scott Mayfield

Andy Greene — Thomas Hickey

Ilya Sorokin

Semyon Varlamov

Philadelphia Flyers Lineup (Projected)

James van Riemsdyk — Sean Couturier — Joel Farabee

Scott Laughton — Kevin Hayes — Jakub Voracek

Oskar Lindblom — Claude Giroux — Travis Konecny

Carsen Twarynski — Nolan Patrick — Nicolas Aube-Kubel

Ivan Provorov — Justin Braun

Travis Sanheim — Philippe Myers

Erik Gustafsson — Nate Prosser

Carter Hart

Alex Lyon

Game Notes

Islanders defenseman Nick Leddy turns 30 today. Leddy has 21 points (one goal, 20 assists) through 30 games this season for New York. He assisted on all three goals in Thursday’s loss to Philadelphia. … Oliver Wahlstrom enters tonight’s game tied for third-most goals scored in the NHL by a rookie this season. He recorded his seventh of the year on Thursday. … Tonight is the Islanders final home game before kicking off a four-game road trip that begins on Monday in Philadelphia. … The Flyers have allowed the league’s third-fewest shots on goal in the month of March at 25.3 per game, but have allowed the league’s most goals per game on average at 4.50. … James van Riemsdyk leads Philadelphia with 13 goals and 29 points in 27 games. … Claude Giroux is one goal shy of passing Simon Gagne on the Philadelphia Flyers all-time goals list.

How to Watch

Tonight’s game will air on MSG+ and stream on MSG Go or on NHL.TV outside of the New York market. On the radio dial, the game can be heard on 1050 AM ESPN, 88.7 FM WRHU and 103.9 FM LI News Radio.