Flyers play host to Tavares, Islanders

Brayden Schenn takes a shot on Jaroslav Halak. Photo Courtesy of Kate Frese

The Philadelphia Flyers (32-29-18) have just three games remaining on their 2014-15 season. They will play the first of those final three tonight as they welcome John Tavares, Kyle Okposo and the rest of the  New York Islanders (46-27-6) to the Wells Fargo Center.  Game time is 7:00.

The Flyers are coming off a hard fought 4-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday afternoon. Four different players, Jakub Voracek, Brayden Schenn, Ryan White and Michael Del Zotto, scored for Philadelphia. The Flyers also went three for four on the power play. 

Steve Mason was outstanding once again. He made 46 saves on 47 shots including 21 in the first period when the Flyers were thoroughly outplayed. He figures to get the start again tonight.

Voracek heads into tonight's game trailing Sidney Crosby by two points in the race for the scoring title. His 57 assists are tied with Nicklas Backstrom for tops in the league in that category. 

Schenn, on the heals of another multiple point game, was named the NHL's second star of the week. The young forward has set a new career high with 45 points. 

In first place for much of the season, the Islanders have been sputtering of late. They are just 3-5-2 in their last ten games. They are currently sitting in third place in the Metropolitan Division, holding down the last automatic playoff spot.

They trail Washington by one point with a game in hand for what could be home ice advantage in the first round. 

Like Voracek, Tavares finds himself in the race for the Art Ross. The Islanders captain trails Crosby by just one point heading into tonight and in a three way tie for second place with 80 points.

Ryan Strome is second on the team in scoring with 17 goals and 32 assists for 49 points.

In goal Jaroslav Halak has shouldered the load. Halak is 37-16-3 with a .915 save percentage, 2.39 goals against and six shutouts on the year. He has posted excellent numbers agaisnt the Flyers in his career and figures to get the start tonight.

Game Notes

• Power Play: Flyers (3rd), Islanders(10th) 
  
• Penalty Kill: Flyers (29th), Islanders (25th) 
• This is the fourth and final meeting of the season between the two clubs. New York has won the first three, two via shoot out and one in regulation.

Flyers scratches: R.J Umberger, Luke Schenn, Radko Gudas, Andrew MacDonald, Wayne Simmonds

Flyers Projected Lineup

Line 1:  Michael Raffl-Claude Giroux-Jakub Voracek
Line 2: Matt Read-Sean Couturier- Brayden Schenn
Line 3: Ryan White-Nick Cousins-Zac Rinaldo
Line 4:Chris VandeVelde-Pierre-Edouard Bellemare-Vincent Lecavalier

D-Pair 1: Nick Schultz-Michael Del Zotto
D-Pair 2: Nicklas Grossmann- Mark Streit
D-Pair 3:Carlo Colaiacovo-Brandon Manning

Goalie: Steve Mason

Where to Watch
TV: CSN Philly
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic 

Bill Minchin is a contributing writer for Flyerdelphia. Follow Bill on Twitter @wtfd103074