In a 1-1 series, the team that won in Game 3 has won the series 67.1% of the time in NHL history. This game was huge, and the Islanders escaped with a 3-1 victory over the Flyers to take a 2-1 series lead.

Semyon Varlamov bounced back marvelously, making 26 saves on 27 shots, including stopping all 12 in the third period. Game 4 will be nationally televised at 8:00 PM on NBC Sunday night.

Flyers vs Islanders Game 3: 1st Period

In the first five minutes, Philadelphia came out buzzing. Semyon Varlamov was tested early with a few high quality shots, and stopped them all. The Flyers were much quicker to pucks, and the Islanders played a strict 1-2-2.

Eventually, the passiveness cost them. At the 14:18 mark of the first period, Tyler Pitlick threw a puck on net from the far left boards. It beat Varlamov through a screen from a tough angle, and the Flyers took a 1-0 lead. 

Then, with a couple minutes on the clock, Brock Nelson had a glorious chance to the left of Hart, and tried to go upstairs, but Carter Hart made a ridiculous glove save to keep Philadelphia in front. Despite the Islanders picking it up a little bit in the last few minutes, the Flyers would take a one-goal lead into the first intermission.

Flyers vs Islanders Game 3: 2nd Period

The second period told a much different tale. In the first three minutes of the period, Mathew Barzal had two glorious chances, one on a wrap-around and one on a one-timer, but failed to even register a shot on goal.

As the Islanders continued to pressure, Devon Toews gained a burst of speed through the neutral zone and had Anthony Beauvillier with him on his left. They both came in alone, and Toews slid it over to Beauvillier, but Hart was not fooled as he denied Beauvillier with the blocker.

Then, Jordan Eberle flipped a puck off the glass and into the zone from the blue line. Barzal retrieved it in the corner, and centered it to a streaking Matt Martin who beat Carter Hart and tied the game with his third of the playoffs.

At around the 19:48 mark, Derick Brassard picked off an airborne puck at the blue line and moved down the wall. He put it in front for Leo Komarov, who got off a backhander which trickled through the legs of Carter Hart with six seconds on the clock. It was a dominant second period for the Islanders, as they outshot Philadelphia 15-6, and scored both goals. New York would carry a 2-1 lead into the third, which was their first lead since Game 1.

Flyers vs Islanders Game 3: 3rd Period

This third period could change everything. A few minutes in, Robert Hagg took a slashing penalty, leading to a delayed penalty situation. Casey Cizikas controlled the puck in the zone, and fired a blind pass to the point, where nobody was found. It was just inches away from trickling into the empty net, and being the most embarrassing moment in the playoffs thus far.

However, the Islanders were able to capitalize on the man advantage. Eberle found Anders Lee in front, who put a backhand on Carter Hart, which rolled off his stick and in and gave New York a 3-1 lead.

About halfway through the period, Joel Farabee received a centering pass in the slot and was denied by the pad of Varlamov in highlight-reel fashion.

In the final five minutes, Lee got called for a strange penalty- playing without a helmet. The Flyers pulled their goaltender and put on a lot of pressure. Varlamov stayed sharp, and made four important saves to keep Philadelphia off the board in the third period.

The final seconds eventually ticked, and the Islanders escaped with a 3-1 victory. The Islanders now lead Philadelphia 2-1, with an extremely important Game 4 coming tomorrow night.

John Smark