Slump Continues as Flyers Routed by Islanders

(Photo: Kate Frese)

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

The Flyers players said it was not time to panic. The head coach said they needed someone to spark the team in some way. Talk is cheap, and it showed on Saturday.

It was more of the same for the Flyers, who allowed the first goal again and never recovered in a 6-1 loss to the New York Islanders at Wells Fargo Center on Saturday afternoon.

The Flyers held off an early push by the Islanders and starting to get some pressure in the offensive zone around five minutes into the game. They drew a penalty as Brock Nelson went off for hooking at 6:23.

But the Flyers power play, which entered the game in a 1-for-17 slump, did not even manage a shot on goal during the man advantage. The Islanders regained the moments moments later and turned it into the first goal.

After several failed clears by the Flyers, a point shot by Adam Pelech was deflected in by Leo Komarov, marking the 10th time in 11 games the Flyers have allowed the first goal.

Less than two minutes later, another failed clear set up another Islanders goal. Nolan Patrick got the puck free along the board and Oskar Lindblom missed on what should have been an easy clear. The Islanders took control with Mathew Barzal dropping for Jordan Eberle, who made a pass across to Anthony Beauvillier, who scored his first of the season.

The Flyers had another power play late in the first after a great open-ice hit by Ivan Provorov on Barzal started a scrum, and again, they failed to do anything with it.

Shots after 20 minutes were 8-7 Flyers. 

Things did not change in the Flyers favor in the second. A two-on-one for the Islanders produced another goal as Josh Bailey set up Nelson for an easy one-timed tip into an open net to make it 3-0.

The Flyers did get on the board just 90 seconds later. Jori Lehtera forced a turnover behind the Islanders net worked his way in front and put a turnaround shot on goal and scored his first of the season to make it 3-1.

Shots through two periods were in favor of the Islanders, 16-15.

The Flyers opened the third period with better possession time and an early power play to try to trim the lead down to one. For the third straight power play, they failed to even get a shot on goal.

The Islanders took their first scoring chance and instantly beat Michal Neuvirth. A long-range shot by Pelech made its way in, making it 4-1 midway through the third.

Seconds later, Nelson added his second goal of the game, putting a toe-drag move on Travis Sanheim and going top shelf.

Anders Lee capped the scoring with a power-play goal later in the period.

Neuvirth made 16 saves on 22 shots. Robin Lehner stopped 22 of 23 shots.

The Flyers head west for a four-game road trip, starting on Tuesday night against the Anaheim Ducks at 10 p.m.

Box Score

Scoring Summary

1st Period

• NYI Leo Komarov (2) (Adam Pelech, Johnny Boychuk) 11:38
• NYI Anthony Beauvillier (1) (Jordan Eberle, Mathew Barzal) 13:20

2nd Period

• NYI Brock Nelson (4) (Josh Bailey, Anders Lee) 4:58
• PHI Jori Lehtera (1) (Unassisted) 6:28

3rd Period

• NYI Pelech (1) (Lee) 8:17
• NYI Nelson (5) (Lee) 8:58
• NYI Lee (3) PP (Bailey, Barzal) 11:09

Game Statistics