Flyers rally back, but Islanders claim win in shootout

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Another long range shot made its way past Steve Mason. Just like on Saturday, the Flyers found themselves on the wrong end of a 3-1 score. 

Dave Hakstol made the change in goal and the Flyers were a completely different team.

The frenetic pace of the second period nearly had the Flyers completely erase the deficit in a matter of 15 minutes. 

The Flyers eventually erased the deficit in the third, but could not find the goal to secure the win as the New York Islanders outlasted the Flyers by winning, 4-3, in a shootout on Tuesday night at Wells Fargo Center.

The Islanders wasted no time getting on the board as Frans Nielsen caught the Flyers napping on a change and burst up the slot. His shot was partially stopped by Mason, but found the back of the net, and just 55 seconds into the game, the Islanders had the lead.

The Flyers would tie things up with a shorthanded goal. A turnover at the Flyers blue line sent Pierre-Edouard Bellemare and Claude Giroux streaking the other way. On a 2-on-0, Bellemare and Giroux traded passes and Bellemare finished with the slam dunk to even the score at 9:12.

The Islanders got the goal right back on the remainder of their power play. Just 1:31 later, with four seconds remaining on their power play, Nick Leddy fired a hard shot from the high slot that was deflected by Brock Nelson to give the Islanders the lead back.

Early in the second, Mason allowed a second goal to Nielsen and at 1:14, Michal Neuvirth was in the game. Mason made just seven saves on 10 shots.

The Flyers were a renewed team after the goalie change, getting the next nine shots. One of those, by Ryan White, found the back of the net.

A high-energy shift from the fourth line was capped with two scoring chances. Scott Laughton fired a shot from the right circle on Jaroslav Halak. The rebound made its way to R.J. Umberger, who patiently played a pass to the slot for White, who collected, fired and scored. It marked the first points for Umberger and White since their return to the lineup from injury on Saturday. It was White's second goal of the season.

The Flyers nearly tied the game in the second. While on the power play, a one-timer by Jake Voracek was stopped by Halak and the rebound bounded to Wayne Simmonds. Simmonds attempted to corral the puck in his skates and the puck went in. But after review, it was ruled Simmonds had scored with a kicking motion and the goal was disallowed.

Through two periods, the Flyers were outshooting the Islanders, 32-14.

The Flyers would tie the game at 2:02 of the third. On another strong shift for the top line, Brayden Schenn set up Giroux for the one-timer that deflected off of two Islanders defenders and past Halak to even the game at three.

The third period would feature more chances for both sides, but end tied and the game would head to overtime.

In the overtime, each team managed just one shot on goal. The most eventful part of overtime was that two concurrent minors were called — an interference penalty on Voracek and a bench minor on the Islanders.

The game would head to a shootout. Kyle Okposo scored in the second round, and that would be the only goal as the Islanders claimed victory.

The Flyers took 46 shots in the game, with Halak making 43 saves. Neuvirth made 16 saves on 16 shots in relief of Mason.

The Flyers return on Thursday night as they hit the road to face the St. Louis Blues. The opening face-off is set for 8 p.m.

Kevin Durso is managing editor for Flyerdelphia. Follow him on Twitter @Kevin_Durso.

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