For the second time in two nights, the New York Islanders came from behind but couldn’t finish the job. Despite a comeback from a 3-1 hole, the Philadelphia Flyers hung on to beat the Islanders 4-3 in overtime.

The Islanders started off as the better team in period one, finishing with a 13-6 edge in shots on goal. However, despite some good looks on the power-play and a sensational save by Ilya Sorokin, Philadelphia scored first on a controversial tally.

Ryan Pulock seemingly won a dump-in race on an icing, but it was waved off by the referee. From there, Brock Nelson made an errant pass on the right side boards to James van Riemsdyk, setting up an open Joel Farabee in the slot. He went top shelf on Sorokin, and the Flyers led 1-0 after one period.

The second period started promising for the Islanders. In the first minute, they earned a power-play after a Nolan Patrick hold. Josh Bailey got the puck back to Nick Leddy in the high slot for a shot through traffic, and it found its way in for the game-tying score. It was his first of the year and it was from Bailey and Jean-Gabriel Pageau 38 seconds into the period. However, the period was all about the Flyers from there, particularly Farabee.

Just about 90 seconds after the Islanders’ tally, a bad coverage on the left side allowed van Riesmdyk to set up Farabee for the one time blast for the quick response. It was Farabee’s second of the game assisted by van Riemsdyk and Travis Sanheim. However, Farabee found some space and completed the hat trick over 13 minutes later. A Phil Myers shot found Farabee’s stick in traffic, allowing him to tip it past Sorokin for his third of the game and first NHL hat trick.

Although things seemed bleak after two, the Islanders came out swinging with a goal a little over a minute into the final frame. A Pulock slap shot found Bailey’s stick on the way in, and Bailey got his first of the season to cut the lead in half. Just over five minutes later, after an upstairs Robert Hagg shot, Anders Lee got on his horse, gained possession of the puck and set up Mathew Barzal for the game-tying tally goal in the slot, his fourth of the season and the Islanders made another multi-goal comeback on the Flyers.

After several strong saves by Brian Elliot and Sorokin, the two teams needed overtime for the second time in two days to determine a winner. However, in overtime, Barzal high-sticked Laughton in the corner, presenting the Flyers with a 4-on-3 power-play.

“[Barzal’s] a guy we need on the ice not off the ice,” said Islanders head coach Barry Trotz.

Barzal took two minor penalties and has 24 penalty minutes this season.

Although the Flyers had a scare early in the man advantage with a Scott Mayfield chance shorthanded, the Flyers were able to finish it off. Kevin Hayes buried the loose puck in front for the 4-3 win, with Claude Giroux and van Riemsdyk assisting on the overtime winner.

For the Flyers, Farabee and van Riemsdyk were amazing, each contributing three goals and four assists respectively in the win, the latter of which extended his point streak to four games. With an assist on the winner, Provorov also extended a point streak of his to three games. Brian Elliot wasn’t on top of his game, but he did enough to pick up the win with 33 saves.

Josh Bailey snapped his eight-plus game goalless drought to spark the Islanders’ comeback effort, along with adding another helper on Leddy’s tally. In fact, the assist was his 324th of his NHL career, and it puts him over Brent Sutter for eighth all-time on the team’s all-time assist list. Barzal also tallied two points, extending his point streak to five games. However, the biggest takeaway was Ilya Sorokin, who made several highlight reel saves, particularly in the first and third periods. Although he had a rough second, he arguably stole the Islanders the point, and the team acknowledged his efforts coming off the ice.

After this two game series, the Islanders will return to Nassau Coliseum to take on the Buffalo Sabres for two games: a Tuesday night game at 6 p.m. EST and a Thursday at 7 p.m. EST. On the other hand, the Flyers are staying put and will face the Boston Bruins for Wednesday and Friday games, both with 7 p.m. EST puck drops.

Matthew Page

I am a first year student at Hofstra University and an avid Islanders fan. I have been writing for Drive4Five since March 2020. My family has been season ticket holders for the team since 2016, and hockey is my favorite sport. As I expand my knowledge in the field of Journalism, I am writing to express my love for the Islanders and the NHL.