Flyers-Islanders: Game 75 Preview

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(Photo: Kate Frese)

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

The Flyers remained alive in the playoff race with a win in Chicago on Thursday that moved them to within five points of a playoff spot. They will have a chance to cut that to three before the scoreboard watching begins on Saturday night.

The Flyers host the Islanders in a Saturday matinee and another game where their own result matters first before turning to watch the rest of the playoff hopefuls take the ice on Saturday night.

Game time is at 1 p.m.

Team Leaders

Philadelphia Flyers GP G A P New York Islanders GP G A P
Claude Giroux 74 20 59 79 Mathew Barzal 74 17 41 58
Sean Couturier 72 31 41 72 Josh Bailey 74 14 36 50
Jake Voracek 70 19 44 63 Anders Lee 74 27 20 47
Travis Konecny 74 22 24 46 Brock Nelson 74 22 25 47
James van Riemsdyk 58 26 18 44 Ryan Pulock 74 8 25 33
 
Player to Watch
11 Travis Konency     27 Anders Lee
Last 5 Games: 0 G, 2 A, 2 P, -5 Last 5 Games: 3 G, 0 A, 3 P, +1
 
Travis Konecny has gone six straight games without a goal dating back to the March 9 win over the Islanders and has just three assists in that time. While he has struggled to get on the scoresheet, he's put himself in a position to score goals, hitting the post in Thursday's win in Chicago. If he can break out of the slump, he could get on a roll to end the season.
 
Following the Islanders 5-2 loss to the Flyers on March 9, Anders Lee scored in four straight games, but has been shut down for the last two with no points. Lee is the Islanders leading goal scorer with 27 on the season.
 
Goalie Matchup
79 Carter Hart 40 Robin Lehner
26 GP, 15-10-1, 2.66 GAA, .922 SV% 40 GP, 20-12-5, 2.23 GAA, .926 SV%

Carter Hart stole the show in Chicago on Thursday, making 40 saves on 41 shots in the win. Hart has played very well since returning from injury last Thursday. In his last three games, Hart has allowed just four goals. 

Robin Lehner is back between the pipes for the Islanders. Lehner has appeared in four straight losses dating back to a March 3 loss to the Flyers where he allowed three goals on 13 shots. He left the game with injury on March 5 against the Senators, allowing five goals in a loss to the Bruins in his return on Tuesday and stopped all 12 shots he faced in relief on Thursday against the Canadiens in a 4-0 loss.

Flyers Projected Lineup

Injuries: Michal Neuvirth

Scratches: Phil Varone, Andrew MacDonald, Cam Talbot, Sam Morin

Left Wing Center Right Wing
23 Oskar Lindblom 14 Sean Couturier 93 Jake Voracek
25 James van Riemsdyk 19 Nolan Patrick 28 Claude Giroux
38 Ryan Hartman 21 Scott Laughton 11 Travis Konecny
12 Michael Raffl 10 Corban Knight 27 Justin Bailey
Defense    
9 Ivan Provorov 6 Travis Sanheim  
53 Shayne Gostisbehere 61 Phil Myers  
8 Robert Hagg 3 Radko Gudas  
Goalie    
79 Carter Hart    

Lineup Notes

Justin Bailey remains in the lineup. Phil Varone was not on the ice for warmups, but it was not revealed if this was because of illness or a legitimate healthy scratch.

Islanders Projected Lineup

Injuries: Valtteri Filppula

Scratches: Michael Dal Colle, Ross Johnston, Tom Kuhnhackl, Thomas Hickey, Luca Sbisa, Dennis Seidenberg

Left Wing Center Right Wing
27 Anders Lee 13 Mathew Barzal  7 Jordan Eberle
12 Josh Bailey  29 Brock Nelson 16 Andrew Ladd
 18 Anthony Beauvillier 11 Tanner Fritz 47 Leo Komarov
17 Matt Martin 53 Casey Cizikas  15 Cal Clutterbuck
Defense    
2 Nick Leddy 55 Johnny Boychuk  
3 Adam Pelech 6 Ryan Pulock  
25 Devon Toews 24 Scott Mayfield  
Goalie    
40 Robin Lehner    

Game Notes

  • Power Play: Flyers (T-23rd, 16th at home), Islanders (29th, 24th on road)
  • Penalty Kill: Flyers (25th, 20th at home), Islanders (13th, 11th on road) 
  • Recent History vs. Islanders
    • Oct. 27, 2018 – Islanders 6, Flyers 1 (at PHI)
    • March 3, 2019 – Flyers 4, Islanders 1 (at NYI)
    • March 9, 2019 – Flyers 5, Islanders 2 (at NYI)
  • Flyers Leaders vs. Islanders 
    • Claude Giroux – 48 GP, 17 G, 35 A, 52 P
    • Nolan Patrick – 7 GP, 3 G, 3 A, 6 P
    • Jake Voracek – 38 GP, 5 G, 26 A, 31 P
    • Shayne Gostisbehere – 15 GP, 2 G, 10 A, 12 P

Where to Watch
TV: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic

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