NHL 20 Simulation: Kevin Hayes’ scores three, Carter Hart sharp as Flyers losing streak ends

Kevin Hayes’ hat trick and overall dominance by the Flyers ended their losing streak at four games.

After losing the last four games, the Flyers needed a big effort to break out of things. And that’s just what they got against the Islanders. Carter Hart was solid as the offense took care of the rest.

The Flyers were strong early on, spending numerous shifts in the Isles zone. But they didn’t have much to show for it at first.

They finally cashed in on their third time down the zone. Joel Farabee skated in and found Travis Sanheim headed towards the net. After his shot was stopped, Kevin Hayes potted the rebound. After a rough last few games, the team needed to get some confidence early in this one.

Hayes grabbed his second of the night after Cal Clutterbuck put the Flyers on the power play. From behind the net, Nicolas Aube-Kubel saw Hayes in front. He wasted no time as he fired the shot right away last Semyon Varlamov.

The Isles cut the lead to 2-1 thanks to Devon Toews. Clutterbuck spun around Connor Bunnaman to find Toews in the middle of the ice. He took a few strides before firing off a wrist shot that hit off the pad of Carter Hart and went in.

Aubé-Kubel didn’t waste any time as he grabbed the goal right back seconds later.  Taking the pass from Scott Laughton, Aube-Kubel came in tight on Varlamov and beat him to the right post.

The teams went back and forth with chances for the next few minutes. After a turnover in the offensive zone, the Isles came in on a break. But a stick ending up breaking on the shot, limiting the damage.

Hart was sharp as the Isles put the pressure on. He made multiple saves from in close.

Bunnaman increased the Flyers lead to 4-1 after a turnover by the Isles. Bunnaman collected the puck in front and sent the backhander behind Varlamov.

It was a strong first period for a Flyers team that was coming in on a four game losing streak. They came out firing in that period.

Despite going to the penalty kill, the Flyers ended up with some of the better chances. Claude Giroux came in on a short handed breakaway, but couldn’t get it past Varlamov. Scott Laughton also tried to go in, but the puck was taken off his stick before he could get a shot off.

The Flyers weren’t done after that. Michael Raffl grabbed the fifth of the night in the second. Skating in from the blue line, Raffl took the shot from outside the dot. It beat Varlamov under the arm and ended his night. Thomas Greiss replaced him.

The goaltender change didn’t seem to help as Hayes ended up scoring his third of the night moments after. Farabee came up the right side and found Hayes at the side of the net.

It was just the second shot Greiss faced. It went from even bad to worse for the Isles. Travis Konecny and Farabee came in on the 2-on-1. Farabee put away the rebound after Konecny’s chance was stopped. It was 7-1 Flyers as the second period came to an end.

Frustration finally took over as we had our first fight late in the third. It was Aube-Kubel and Andrew Ladd who decided to stop the gloves. Neither got many early punches in before Ladd got the upper cut that sent Aubé-Kubel down.

While this one was likely decided after the first period, the Flyers never took their foot off the gas. While they didn’t grab another goal in the third, they limited the Isles as well. It was just the game the Flyers needed.

They’ll get to celebrate this game for a day before getting back at it as they travel to Detroit on Thursday.