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Islanders Stay Hot; Beat Flyers 3-1

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New York Islanders Close out a 3-1 Win over the Philadelphia Flyers // Russ Macias

ELMONT, N.Y. — The New York Islanders (20-20-7) won their third straight game, defeating the Philadelphia Flyers (22-22-6) 3-1 on Friday night in UBS Arena. Bo Horvat and Mathew Barzal both extended their point streaks to four games. Brock Nelson scored his 14th of the season, while Anthony Duclair snapped a 10-game scoring drought.



After a very slow start to the first period, the Islanders scored twice in 55 seconds in the final three minutes of the period to flip a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 lead, a lead they wouldn’t relinquish for the rest of the night.

Ilya Sorokin made 26 saves in the victory for the Islanders. Ivan Fedotov denied 27 in defeat for the Flyers.

First Period:

For the first 13 minutes of the game, the Islanders had all of two shots on goal while the Flyers registered one. Needless to say, the game had an incredibly slow start. New York had a power play during this time, and the most notable thing to come of it was a Dennis Cholowski turnover. The lack of poise from Cholowski further signified why Team President and General Manager Lou Lamoriello signed Tony DeAngelo, a power play specialist.

Further to that end, Ryan Pulock got beat pinching in. That left Cholowski to defend a full-ice 2-on-1, which resulted in Tyson Foersrter holding and eventually firing in, beating Ilya Sorokin on the near side. 1-0 Flyers.

Less than three minutes later, Duclair snapped his drought. The play started with an aerial pass from Kyle Palmieri that Nelson gloved down for a 2-on-1. Nelson slipped it to Duclair, who put it past Fedotov’s blocker.

55 seconds after that, Horvat doubled the lead. Barzal set him up on another 2-on-1 with Horvat’s one-time blazing past a helpless Fedotov.

Second & Third Periods:

In the second period, the Islanders again suffocated the Flyers. The game itself had a strong physical undertone, with the Islanders’ fourth line consistently asserting themselves. Pierre Engvall, in particular, got in scrums, and his skating ability continues to show why he has the contract he has.

Sorokin made a nice breakaway save on Matvei Michkov and later denied Sean Couturier with a toe save. The Islanders also got another successful penalty kill, improving to 15/17 since January 1.

With just over six minutes left in the period, Adam Pelech sprung Nelson for a sprint ahead. Nelson walked in and beat Fedotov’s glove cleanly with a sharp wrister. From there, the Islanders sat back and did not give up many high-danger chances.

They rushed when they could and failed to convert on multiple power plays, but overall controlled the game.

The entire third period felt like an old Barry Trotz clinic. The Islanders kept the Flyers out of the danger area with a strong forecheck while their goaltender made the saves he needed to. The clock dripped down on a second consecutive 3-1 win over a fellow Metropolitan Division foe.

 

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