Flyers

Flyers-Islanders: Game 66 Preview

By
Kevin Durso
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Kevin Durso Sports Editor

I have been writing for Sports Talk Philly since 2011. Currently editor and lead writer of Philadelphia Flyers coverage. Co-host of the YWT Podcast. I also am Flyers insider for 97.3 ESPN-FM in South Jersey. I graduated from Cabrini University in 2014.

All posts by Kevin Durso
Sports Editor

Published03 Mar 2019

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10-27-2018_FlyersvsIslanders_2ndedit_credKateFrese-94

(Photo: Kate Frese)

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor Flyers-Islanders: Game 66 Preview

The Flyers continue to keep pace in the playoff race, but haven't been able to get much help from the teams in front of them. They enter Sunday down five points on Columbus as the first team out of the playoff picture and seven points behind Pittsburgh and Montreal for the final playoff spot.

The Flyers will face the New York Islanders on Sunday afternoon at the start of a difficult week that features three games against the top two teams in the Metro.

Game time is at 3 p.m.

Team Leaders

Philadelphia Flyers GP G A P New York Islanders GP G A P
Claude Giroux 65 19 49 68 Mathew Barzal 64 17 35 52
Sean Couturier 63 26 34 60 Josh Bailey 64 14 34 48
Jake Voracek 65 18 41 59 Brock Nelson 64 20 23 43
Travis Konecny 65 20 21 41 Anders Lee 64 22 20 42
James van Riemsdyk 49 19 16 35 Ryan Pulock 64 7 24 31
 
Player to Watch
14 Sean Couturier     13 Mathew Barzal
Last 5 Games: 2 G, 2 A, 4 P, +2 Last 5 Games: 0 G, 2 A, 2 P, -4
 
Sean Couturier nears the 30-goal mark again. His goal in the third period of Friday's game was his 26th and he continues to be a strong offensive presence on this team. 
 
The Islanders have been on a roll all season, but skilled forward Mathew Barzal has just one goal and three assists in the last 11 games. Always dangerous with the puck, this could be a game where Barzal combines his speed and skill and burns the Flyers. He had two assists against the Flyers on Oct. 27 in the only other meeting between the two teams.
 
Goalie Matchup
37 Brian Elliott 40 Robin Lehner
19 GP, 8-7-1, 2.58 GAA, .917 SV% 36 GP, 20-10-5, 2.07 GAA, .931 SV%

Brian Elliott is expected back in goal on Sunday. He suffered the overtime loss in Columbus on Thursday after picking up back-to-back wins against Pittsburgh and Buffalo over the previous week.

Robin Lehner got Friday's game off in a back-to-back for the Islanders. He's been one of the top netminders in the league this season, leading the way with a .931 save percentage and 2.07 GAA. He won his last start on Thursday, making 34 saves on 35 shots against Toronto.

Flyers Projected Lineup

Injuries: Carter Hart, Michal Neuvirth

Scratches: Andrew MacDonald, Sam Morin

Left Wing Center Right Wing
28 Claude Giroux 19 Nolan Patrick 11 Travis Konecny
23 Oskar Lindblom 14 Sean Couturier 93 Jake Voracek
25 James van Riemsdyk 21 Scott Laughton 38 Ryan Hartman
12 Michael Raffl 44 Phil Varone 10 Corban Knight
Defense    
9 Ivan Provorov 6 Travis Sanheim  
53 Shayne Gostisbehere 61 Phil Myers  
8 Robert Hagg 3 Radko Gudas  
Goalie    
33 Cam Talbot    

Lineup Notes

The Flyers are expected to use the same lineup as Friday night.

Islanders Projected Lineup

Injuries: Matt Martin

Scratches: Thomas Hickey, Tom Kuhnhackl, Luca Sbisa, Dennis Seidenberg

Left Wing Center Right Wing
27 Anders Lee 29 Brock Nelson  7 Jordan Eberle
18 Anthony Beauvillier  13 Mathew Barzal 12 Josh Bailey
16 Andrew Ladd 51 Valtteri Filppula 47 Leo Komarov
32 Ross Johnston 53 Casey Cizikas  15 Cal Clutterbuck
Defense    
2 Nick Leddy 55 Johnny Boychuk  
3 Adam Pelech 6 Ryan Pulock  
24 Scott Mayfield 25 Devon Toews  
Goalie    
40 Robin Lehner    

Game Notes

  • Power Play: Flyers (20th, 28th on road), Islanders (25th, 25th at home)
  • Penalty Kill: Flyers (28th, 24th on road), Islanders (T-14th, 20th at home) 
  • Recent History vs. Islanders
    • Oct. 27, 2018 – Islanders 6, Flyers 1 (at PHI)
  • Flyers Leaders vs. Islanders 
    • Claude Giroux – 46 GP, 17 G, 32 A, 49 P
    • Jake Voracek – 37 GP, 5 G, 24 A, 29 P
    • Sean Couturier – 31 GP, 6 G, 16 A, 22 P
    • Brian Elliott – 14 GP, 6-1-6, 2.79 GAA, .906 SV%
  • Milestone Watch
    • Radko Gudas needs one point to reach 100 for his career.
    • Jake Voracek needs two points to reach 500 as a Flyer.

Where to Watch
TV: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic