It's all on the line now for the Flyers. Following back-to-back losses over the weekend, the Flyers are on the brink of elimination, down 3-1 in the series to the Islanders.

There is a chance this could be the last game of the 2019-20 season for the Flyers. There is a chance their time in the Toronto bubble will end. But it is also in the control of the Flyers to try to make a push and at least inch their way back into the series with a win in Game 5 and forcing a Game 6.

Game 5 is set for 7 p.m.

Team Leaders

Philadelphia FlyersGPGAPNew York IslandersGPGAP
Kevin Hayes133710Josh Bailey1321113
Jake Voracek12448Anthony Beauvillier137411
Sean Couturier13268Brock Nelson135510
Scott Laughton12336Mathew Barzal133710
Travis Sanheim13156Jean-Gabriel Pageau13729
Player to Watch
28 Claude Giroux13 Mathew Barzal
Last 5 Games: 0 G, 1 A, 1 P, -1Last 5 Games: 0 G, 3 A, 3 P, E
With the season on the line, you look to your leaders to step up. Claude Giroux is right in the center of the focus of that, with no goals in his last 14 playoff games and really having it tarnish his legacy. Giroux can silence that narrative with a strong game, and the Flyers certainly need it from him and the rest of their top players.
As excellent as he has been in the series, it may be hard to believe that Mathew Barzal has yet to score a goal in the series. He had assists in each of the first three games of the series, but was held off the board in Game 4. Barzal has displayed the ability to take over a shift and take over a game, and with a chance to move on, he should be motivated to bring even more contributions.
Projected Goalie Matchup
79 Carter Hart40 Semyon Varlamov
11 GP, 7-4-0, 2.08 GAA, .931 SV%12 GP, 9-2-0, 1.69 GAA, .935 SV%

Facing elimination, the Flyers will turn to their young goaltender hoping to get the performance out of him that can keep the season going. Carter Hart has been solid in the playoffs, but the Flyers need his best to keep their season going.

The Islanders got a great performance out of Thomas Greiss in Game 4 to take control of the series. Now they will shift back to Semyon Varlamov, who has also been excellent and has helped the Islanders primarily reach this point.

Flyers Projected Lineup

Left WingCenterRight Wing
28 Claude Giroux14 Sean Couturier93 Jake Voracek
49 Joel Farabee13 Kevin Hayes11 Travis Konecny
25 James van Riemsdyk21 Scott Laughton62 Nicolas Aube-Kubel
38 Derek Grant44 Nate Thompson18 Tyler Pitlick
Defense
9 Ivan Provorov15 Matt Niskanen
6 Travis Sanheim5 Phil Myers
8 Robert Hagg61 Justin Braun
Goalie
79 Carter Hart37 Brian Elliott

Islanders Projected Lineup

Left WingCenterRight Wing
27 Anders Lee13 Mathew Barzal7 Jordan Eberle
18 Anthony Beauvillier29 Brock Nelson12 Josh Bailey
10 Derick Brassard44 Jean-Gabriel Pageau47 Leo Komarov
17 Matt Martin53 Casey Cizikas15 Cal Clutterbuck
Defense
3 Adam Pelech6 Ryan Pulock
25 Devon Toews24 Scott Mayfield
2 Nick Leddy4 Andy Greene
Goalie
40 Semyon Varlamov1 Thomas Greiss

Lineup Notes

  • Flyers: Alain Vigneault said that primary group took the morning skate and that there could be changes, but that the team will be ready to go regardless. One player who will likely not be in the lineup is Oskar Lindblom. The Flyers teased that Lindblom could be returning and he did take warmups ahead of Game 4. Lindblom will take warmups in Game 5, but Vigneault said he is still "a few days away."
  • Islanders: The Islanders have primarily used the same lineup throughout the series and there's no reason to believe any changes will be coming now. Expect the same group for the Islanders in Game 5.

Game Notes

  • Power Play: Flyers (22nd), Islanders (13th)
  • Penalty Kill: Flyers (T-14th), Islanders (17th)
  • Recent History vs. Islanders
    • Oct. 27, 2019 - Islanders 5, Flyers 3 (at NYI)
    • Nov. 16, 2019 - Islanders 4, Flyers 3 (F/SO) (at PHI)
    • Feb. 11, 2020 - Islanders 5, Flyers 3 (at NYI)
    • Aug. 24, 2020 (Game 1) - Islanders 4, Flyers 0
    • Aug. 26, 2020 (Game 2) - Flyers 4, Islanders 3 (F/OT)
    • Aug. 29, 2020 (Game 3) - Islanders 3, Flyers 1
    • Aug. 30, 2020 (Game 4) - Islanders 3, Flyers 2
  • Flyers Leaders vs. Islanders (Career Regular Season Stats)
    • Claude Giroux - 52 GP, 18 G, 38 A, 56 P
    • Jake Voracek - 42 GP, 6 G, 27 A, 33 P
    • James van Riemsdyk - 37 GP, 11 G, 17 A, 28 P
    • Sean Couturier - 37 GP, 10 G, 18 A, 28 P
    • Matt Niskanen - 38 GP, 4 G, 14 A, 18 P
    • Carter Hart - 2 GP, 0-2-0, 6.23 GAA, .833 SV%

Where to Watch
TV: NBCSN
Radio: 97.3 ESPN

Kevin Durso is Flyers insider for 97.3 ESPN and Flyers editor for SportsTalkPhilly.com. Follow him on Twitter @Kevin_Durso.

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