Islanders Set for Rematch Against Flyers After 4-3 Loss
The New York Islanders have a rematch with the Philadelphia Flyers tonight after a heartbreaking 4-3 loss on Thursday. With 1,400 fans in the building, Thursday’s game was the Islanders’ first contest open to the general public. Fans will be there once again on Saturday, but the Islanders will hope for a different result.
Islanders Storylines:
Losing Must End
After a nine-game winning streak against primarily the Buffalo Sabres and the New Jersey Devils––two struggling teams––the Islanders have dropped their last two games to far more successful teams, the Washington Capitals and the Flyers. The Islanders went into the game with an astonishing 12-0-2 home record, but were held to zero points in the debut of fans. Losing consecutive games is inevitable at some point in the season, but the Islanders have not looked like their usual dominant selves in the last two games. In a close division race, the Islanders will need to snap out of it quickly to avoid tumbling in the standings.
Goaltending Situation
Semyon Varlamov started the last two games, and although the losses are not entirely on him, it might be time for a change. Varlamov has started six of the 10 games so far in March, and Ilya Sorokin has started four, so it should be the rookie’s turn in net on Saturday. Sorokin has played well this season, posting a .910 Save Percentage (SV %) and a 2.20 Goals Against Average (GAA). Nonetheless, the Flyers will be one of his toughest challenges so far.
Where Should Kieffer Bellows and Oliver Wahlstrom Play?
Oliver Wahlstrom has been the brightest light for the Islanders this season, finding immense success on the third line with Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Michael Dal Colle. Since Anders Lee went down with an injury, Kieffer Bellows has filled his first-line spot quite successfully. However, after his team fell behind 3-0 to the Flyers on Thursday, head coach Barry Trotz made a change. Wahlstrom was promoted to the second line with Brock Nelson and Josh Bailey, Anthony Beauviller moved up to the first line and Bellows fell to Wahlstrom’s spot on the third line. The changes worked, as the Islanders erased the three-goal deficit thanks in part to Wahlstrom’s game-tying goal. Although the Islanders ultimately lost, their third period success gives Trotz the challenge of organizing his line combinations effectively.
Flyers Storylines:
Hungry For Playoff Spot
With a record of 15-10-3, the Flyers are currently in fifth place in the MassMutual East Division. Just three points outside of the playoffs, the Flyers have almost two months left to make a push. We likely will see constant changes in the playoff picture from now until the season ends on May 10. For now, the Flyers need every win they can get against teams ahead of them, such as the New York Islanders.
Carter Hart and Brian Elliott Continue To Struggle
One of the best young goaltenders in the league last year, Carter Hart has been one of the most disappointing players in the NHL this season. Last year, Hart had a GAA of 2.42 and a SV % of .914. This year, his numbers have negatively regressed. He now has a GAA of 3.70 and a SV % of .880, ranking 35th in both statistics, among goaltenders who have played at least 14 games. Brian Elliott has struggled too, having one of his worst seasons in recent memory. Given that Hart got the start on Thursday against the Islanders, don’t be surprised to see Elliott between the pipes tonight.
Where To Watch:
Puck drop is at 7:00 PM EST on MSG+. The game will also be available on NHL Network.
Die-Hard Islanders fan and writer from Plainview, Long Island, NY. I have a passion and knowledge for this team and I enjoy sharing that with others
