Flyers Fall to Islanders in Allentown on Pulock’s OT Winner

(Photo: Kate Frese)

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

The Flyers started off with another strong first period, as they have in the last three preseason games. They closed poorly.

A lot of sloppy play and penalties allowed the Islanders to get the game tied and force overtime, where they claimed victory over the Flyers for the first time since the preseason opener. Ryan Pulock scored the game-winning goal on a one-timer in overtime for a 3-2 victory at PPL Center on Friday night.

The Flyers got a couple of early power plays, and opened the scoring in similar fashion to Monday's game against the Islanders. On a power play, Shayne Gostisbehere let a blast go from the point and scored for his third power-play goal of the preseason to make it 1-0.

Shots in the period were 11-4 Flyers.

There was no scoring between the two teams through the first half of the second period, as the Islanders started to pick up the pace and get takeaways off Flyers turnovers. The Flyers also killed off a 1:57 5-on-3 early in the period. At the midpoint of the game, the Flyers swapped netminders. Carter Hart stopped all nine shots he faced in the game. 

The Flyers started to push back after that, but the Islanders would get the game tied up with 3:51 left in the period. Jan Kovac scored the goal, walking in on some spacious defense by the Flyers and getting his own rebound.

Just over a minute later, the Flyers were back in front. Mikhail Vorobyev lifted a nice pass to Travis Konecny behind the defense, and he was able to score, going backhand through the five-hole on Robin Lehner.

After two periods, the Flyers had a 2-1 lead and would start the third with a power play.

Gostisbehere did not return for the third period. He left the game for "precautionary reasons," according to GM Ron Hextall.

The Flyers struggled to get another going on the power play and the Islanders were able to strike just seconds after the penalty expired. Out of a scramble in front, Ross Johnston was able to knock in a rebound to tie the game at two.

The Flyers failed to capitalize on two more power plays later in the period, then had to kill off a couple of later penalties as well, including one taken by Anthony Stolarz with 37.7 seconds remaining in regulation.

The Flyers were not able to kill it off though, as the Islanders got set up in overtime at 4-on-3 and used quick passing to set up Pulock for the one-timer for the game-winning goal one minute into the overtime.

Stolarz stopped seven of 10 shots. Lehner went the distance in the game and stopped 25 shots in the win.

The Flyers return to the ice at Wells Fargo Center on Monday night to face the Boston Bruins. Game time is set for 7 p.m.

Box Score

Scoring Summary

1st Period

• PHI Shayne Gostisbehere (3) PP (Jake Voracek, Jordan Weal) 8:30

2nd Period

• NYI Jan Kovac (1) (Adam Pelech) 16:09
• PHI Travis Konecny (1) (Mikhail Vorobyev, Mark Friedman) 17:37

3rd Period

• NYI Ross Johnston (1) (Pelech, Anthony Beauvillier) 2:16

Overtime

• NYI Ryan Pulock (1) PP (Mathew Barzal, Nick Leddy) 1:00