The Islanders showed they are a team that has a lot - the talent behind the bench, the depth up front, the defensive structure and the goaltender to get the job done. The Flyers did not show what they wanted to show. They did not show they have another level. They showed their flaws. 5 takeaways from Game 1.
The Flyers move on to face the seven-seed New York Islanders, a team that plays a similar style with much more depth and much more physicality. This series is sure to be a battle from start to finish. Game 1 is set for 7 p.m.
The Flyers are one of eight teams remaining, and they get to go against an old foe behind the bench, one who has been in the division for years, but this time with a new team. Here are five storylines to watch in the upcoming series between the Flyers and Islanders.
Less than a minute after tying the game to erase a 3-0 deficit, the Flyers surrendered the game-winning goal to Ryan Pulock with 38.9 seconds left in a 5-3 defeat to the New York Islanders.
Wins for both the Flyers and Islanders on Monday set the stage for a meeting between the two teams on Tuesday. The two teams are separated by one point in the standings.
The Flyers had the Islanders on the ropes with a 3-0 lead after two periods, but allowed three goals in the third, eventually falling, 4-3, in a shootout.
The New York Islanders have won 12 games on their 13-game points streak, including a 5-3 win over the Flyers on Oct. 27. They bring that streak into Philadelphia next.