Flyers Lose Lead, Drop 7th Straight in Overtime to Islanders

(Kate Frese/SB Nation)

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

Just when you think the Flyers have finally started to put the pieces together that will put an end to their streak, they find another way to lose a game.

The Flyers took a two-goal lead to the third period and let it slip away again, as the Islanders scored two goals in the third period and got a goal from Nick Leddy in overtime to claim a 5-4 win over the Flyers at Wells Fargo Center on Friday.

The Flyers and Islanders played a scoreless first period for 19 minutes. The Flyers struggling penalty kill had to dodge an early bullet, but managed to kill off a high-sticking minor on Wayne Simmonds.

The Flyers got a golden opportunity of their own late in the period, with Nolan Patrick being awarded a penalty shot with 2:59 left in the period. Patrick tried a backhander that went just wide of the left post.

It appeared the first period would end without a goal before the Islanders got the benefit of some lucky bounces to go their way. A point shot by Scott Mayfield hit Andrew Ladd high and sat at his feet. With the Flyers scrambling to get to the puck, Ladd put a pass across the goal mouth to Mathew Barzal. Barzal whiffed on the shot attempt, as the pass hit off his shoulder and off a sprawling Brian Elliott before barely crossing the goal line to give the Islanders a 1-0 lead with 17 seconds remaining in the period.

The Flyers held a 10-7 shot advantage through 20 minutes.

It was goals on goals on goals in the second period.

The Flyers opened the scoring at 3:49 of the period, as Robert Hagg forced a turnover and centered to a wide open Claude Giroux, who ripped a slap shot past Thomas Greiss to tie the game at one.

Less than three minutes later, a great shift by Patrick resulted in a goal. Patrick got the puck back to the point for Shayne Gostisbehere, who rang a shot off the post. The rebound took a perfect bounce into the slot where Wayne Simmonds was waiting and he buried the chance, scoring to snap a 14-game goalless drought.

The Flyers lead was short-lived as just 1:28 later a point shot by Dennis Seidenberg was aptly deflected by Cal Clutterbuck to beat Elliott and even the score at two.

The Islanders nearly took a lead shortly after that, as a shot by Johnny Boychuk from near center ice beat Elliott and went in. But the goal was immediately waved off as the Islanders had two players still in the zone offside.

The Flyers recovered, and ultimately took the lead with two quick strikes. A strong play by Sean Couturier drew a penalty and allowed Gostisbehere to jump up into the play. The puck made its way to the slot where Gostisbehere was able to put a wrist shot into the net for his first goal in 14 games to give the Flyers the lead.

Just 19 seconds later, the Flyers struck again, as a dump in by Giroux skipped over the stick of Greiss behind the net and went right to Jake Voracek. Voracek centered for Couturier with an open net and he took care of the rest, scoring to make it a two-goal game with his 13th goal of the season.

The Flyers had to kill off a late penalty in the second and did so successfully to keep the margin at two with 20 minutes to play. Shots were 18-17 Islanders after two periods.

The third period brought out more physical play and left things even more wide open on the ice. The Islanders benefitted from a few calls, getting a power play and capitalizing.

Jordan Eberle tucked a shot from in close along the goal line in to cut the lead to one at 4:12. 

The Flyers got a power play midway through the period, their first of the game, but failed to score. The Islanders kept pushing back and ultimately tied the game. Andrew Ladd was parked in front of the net and took a centering pass and scored to tie things up at four with 7:39 to play.

Both teams generated moments of good zone time and chances, but there was no scoring for the remainder of the game, forcing overtime for the second straight meeting between the two teams.

The Islanders heavily controlled the possession game in overtime, and that allowed them to eventually win the game. It was Leddy getting room in the slot and beating Elliott for the game-winning goal at 2:44 of overtime.

Greiss picked up another win over the Flyers, stopping 26 of 30 shots. Elliott dropped another game despite making 32 saves on 37 shots for the Islanders.

Giroux finished the game with two points, a goal and an assist, including his 600th NHL point by assisting on Couturier's goal. 

The Flyers are back on the ice on Monday night as they face the Pittsburgh Penguins on the road. Game time is 7 p.m.

Box Score

Scoring Summary

1st Period

• NYI Mathew Barzal (6) (Andrew Ladd, Scott Mayfield) 19:43

2nd Period

• PHI Claude Giroux (10) (Robert Hagg) 3:49
• PHI Wayne Simmonds (7) (Shayne Gostisbehere, Nolan Patrick) 6:28
• NYI Cal Clutterbuck (4) (Dennis Seidenberg, Mayfield) 7:56
• PHI Gostisbehere (2) (Jake Voracek, Sean Couturier) 12:11
• PHI Couturier (13) (Voracek, Giroux) 12:30

3rd Period

• NYI Jordan Eberle (8) PP (Josh Bailey, Adam Pelech) 4:12
• NYI Ladd (5) (Eberle, Barzal) 12:11

Overtime

• NYI Nick Leddy (6) (Josh Ho-Sang, John Tavares) 2:44

Game Statistics