The Islanders and Flyers are playing in a crucial Game 7 tonight. Philadelphia tied the series at three games a piece after their Game 6 overtime victory. Stay tuned to this article for the game, as we will have you covered with a live blog throughout the night!

Pregame:

Thomas Greiss will start in net for the Islanders tonight after Semyon Varlamov allowed 5 goals on 31 shots in the Game 6 loss. Carter Hart in net for the Flyers, and Sean Couturier is back in the lineup. He is replacing Derek Grant at center. Oskar Lindblom played his fist game in Game 6 since December due to his battle with cancer, and will be playing again tonight. Also, Michael Dal Colle is in for Leo Komarov and is expected to play on JG Pageau’s wing with Derrick Brassard. No matter who is playing, the Islanders and Flyers need to win to extend their season in Game 7 tonight.

I think the keys for the Islanders are a strong start, a constant stream of shots on net and an increased focus on locking down men in front of the net. In past games, the Islanders have struggled defensively, which is rare for them. If this continues to happen, they will struggle tonight.

The Flyers will be relying on offense from Kevin Hayes tonight, just like they have all series. If they play like they have in Games 5-6, they may be in trouble, because the Islanders had better games. However, puck luck is on their side, so the future of this game is undetermined. There is no clear favorite.

20:00-15:00, 1st Period:

No team has taken an edge in the first 5 minutes. Each team has 1 shot. Barzal has been great, and almost generated 2 goals. Both team have struggled to hit the net thus far.

 

15:00-10:00, 1st Period:

Scott Mayfield scores from Devon Toews, Jordan Eberle from top-left corner snipe at 10:33. Isles don’t get burned after sloppy penalty kill, and then grab tons of momentum out of nowhere and score.

 

10:00-5:00, 1st Period:

Andy Greene scores from Derrick Brassard, Brock Nelson off a one-timer at 7:48. Flyers simply have no answer for Islanders fiery attack. Simple as that. Islanders have 8 shots. Flyers have 6, but none of which were high-opportunity scoring chances unlike those of the Islanders.

 

5:00-End, 1st Period:

Islanders have a very promising power play, but can’t find the back of the net. The Flyers only had 2 clears and no possession time during their kill. They took another penalty a few minutes later. That power-play looked sloppy, as a defensive breakdown almost lead to a short-handed goal. 1:17 still remains on that powerplay going into the 2nd. Flyers still haven’t taken a single shot since before the Andy Greene goal. Amazing period for the Islanders.

 

20:00-15:00, 2nd Period:

Isles start the 2nd very sloppy. The team only had 20 seconds of good power-play hockey where Eberle was inches away from increasing the lead to 3. Other than that, a rough start for the Islanders. Luckily, Greiss is standing tall and a stroke of luck where the  Flyers hit the post has kept the shutout alive. Towards the end of another failed Powerplay, Barzal receives another stick to the face (Eberle’s stick.) Barzal is being treated on the bench.

 

15:00-10:00, 2nd Period:

The Islanders completely turn the ship in the next five minutes. They outshot the Flyers 6-1 in these 5 minutes, including a shot off the post. Carter Hart is bailing out the weak Flyers defense, just like he did for most of the first period. The few minutes of Flyers dominance has ended, and the Isles will Score again in no time if they keep this up.

 

10:00-5:00, 2nd Period:

Brock Nelson scores from Josh Bailey, Ryan Pulock off a one-timer at 9:34. Islanders are dominating this game even more than they ever have. Every time they breakout, a goal is close to being scored. Hart is playing great, and keeping this game close. But the Flyers haven’t stopped the Islanders whatsoever.

 

5:00-End, 2nd Period:

This is a situation where I feel the Flyers have played better, but the Isles haven’t played worse. Just like us, the Flyers were starting to make the most of the chances. Unfortunately, a Flyers goal in the Flyers goal wouldn’t surprise me. However, the Flyers are still far away from evening out this game, and as long as the Islanders don’t collapse, which they haven’t shown any signs of, we can hold the lead and go to Edmonton to play the Lightning. Fingers crossed…..

 

20:00-15:00, 3rd Period:

The beginning of the 3rd period has been pretty even. All that matters is that the Flyers have not started a comeback and still sit at 0. Barry Trotz knows we have enough goals to win and we have to keep them off the scoreboard, and the players know that also. It’s looking good for the Islanders.

 

15:00-10:00, 3rd Period:

JG Pageau and Scott Laughton, each teams’ leading playoff goal scorer, drop the gloves with 14 minutes remaining, the first real fight of the series. Brock Nelson was called for a questionable holding penalty, but the Isles show their renown defensive skills and don’t let Philly register a single shot on their Powerplay. Following the Powerplay, Greiss has a clutch poke-check in front of the net to hold on to his shutout

10:00-5:00, 3rd Period:

Anthony Beauvillier scores from Brock Nelson, Josh Bailey on an empty-netter at 6:18.

Carter Hart was pulled only 30 seconds prior to the goal. Philly still can’t make a move on the scoreboard. Hart is pulled again with 5 minutes left.

 

5:00-End, 3rd Period:

Flyers take their second too-many-men penalty. Islanders don’t score on the Powerplay, it mainly seems they’re doing their best to maintain Greiss’ shutout. The Islanders have won the biggest game of their franchise in 30 years. They’re offically going to Edmonton to face the Lightning. WHAT. A. GAME.