Flyers-Islanders: Game 40 Preview

(Kate Frese/SB Nation) 

As the East Coast is pelted with a snow bomb, the Philadelphia Flyers will try not to bomb again tonight against the New York Islanders in a crucial division game.

By Dan Heaning, Sports Talk Philly staff writer 

The Philadelphia Flyers missed a golden opportunity on Tuesday to inch their way closer to a playoff spot, but with the New York Islanders visiting the Wells Fargo Center tonight at 7 p.m. they'll have another chance for a four-point swing.

The Islanders are on the outside looking in on a playoff spot as the Carolina Hurricanes have the points percentage tiebreaker for now. However, with 44 points, they are four points ahead of the Flyers. After having dropped their first two meetings earlier in the season, this can be construed as a must-win for Philadelphia.

Both teams have struggled to keep the puck out of their nets this season and this game has the potential to be a barn burner like the previous two games the teams have played. 

This is the game the Flyers will be the most consequential contest for the team until they hit their bye week. After tonight, the Flyers will remain home for a back-to-back this weekend against the St. Louis Blues and the Buffalo Sabres. Neither one of those games creates a vital four-point swing so it is imperative that the team come away with a win tonight or the idea of climbing over the Pittsburgh Penguins, Hurricanes and Islanders may become too great a hill to ascend.

The game will be played despite the snow "bomb" hitting the East Coast. Fans should exercise caution if attending the game.

Team Leaders

Michal Neuvirth is expected to finally gets the start after mopping up in the Penguins game. Brian Elliott played well through most of the stretch in which Neuvirth was hurt, but it looked quite clear in the last few games that Elliott needed to come out. The trouble here is Neuvirth hasn't seen a start since November 28. The last time Neuvirth missed any significant time this season and returned he played poorly in a 5-2 loss to the Vancouver Canucks. He played better a week later against the San Jose Sharks, but missed all of December afterward. The Flyers will need Neuvirth to return to the form he showcased against the St. Louis Blues, Philadelphia's only shutout this season, in order to win this game.

Or maybe not. After all, the Islanders goaltending situation is Jaroslav Halak and Thomas Griess. Neither have been good this season with Halak being slightly less terrible. Greiss has a 3.82 goals-against average and .884 save percentage with a -6.06 goals-saved above average at five-on-five. Halak, on the other hand, has a 3.19 goals-against average and .904 save percentage with a 2.79 goals-saved above average at five-on-five. So, mystifyingly enough, Greiss gets the start tonight. Well, Greiss does have a 5-2-2 record against the Flyers including a 2-0 record this season. However, he gave up seven goals in the previous two meetings, six of which came at even strength. Greiss is 62nd of 65 goalies in high-danger save percentage so if the Flyers can get a quality scoring chance, it's probably going in the net.

Flyers Projected Lineup

Scratches: Travis Sanheim, Taylor Leier, Tyrell Goulbourne