Flyers take on Isles for the first time at UBS Arena

The Philadelphia Flyers and New York Islanders last met in the preseason. The game played out like a typical Flyers vs Islanders regular season game and it showed how much promise both teams had. For the last few years, both teams seemed to be trending toward the top of the Metropolitan Division.

But this season, it seemed to go in a downward spiral as both teams are in the bottom three of the division. Both have so much promise but can not seem to put it together.

I expect this still to be a typical game between the two teams. The forecheck is going to play a massive role and getting on the board first will most likely sway the outcome of this tilt. Usually when the Flyers score first, these two teams go to OT. When the Islanders score first, it is a blowout.

In all honesty, these next two games against the Islanders on this back to back could be a big stepping stone for Philadelphia to start trending back in the right direction.

Philadelphia Flyers

Record: 13-17-7 (33 points, 6th in the Metro)

The Flyers have been nothing short of a roller coaster ride this season. From a 10-game losing streak, to the seven-game point streak, back to a seven-game losing streak. At some point, something has to give and someone in the locker room other than Cam Atkinson, Claude Giroux and Joel Farabee needs to step up. The Rangers game was a good game and the Flyers could have won it for sure… if Sean Couturier were on the ice after the go ahead goal by Cam York.

The defense has been significantly weaker since losing Couturier to IR. While you have guys who can play solid defense, they are not Selke winners unfortunately. That being said though, someone needs to step up! Giroux is already putting the team on his back most games and can not carry the team alone as the best defensive forward. Kevin Hayes, Scott Laughton or Morgan Frost need to step up and become that guy for Mike Yeo and the Flyers.

While Yeo hasn’t exactly had a fair shake in this whole situation, there is still some belief in him by Chuck Fletcher. While this is warranted, you need to fill out his staff as you are leaving him out there to fail. The way Yeo coaches and his systems are set up benefits the Flyers strengths. As a coach you can only do so much with this lineup. Fletcher needs to stop sitting on his hands and go make some sort of move to help this team out but mainly help out Carter Hart.

Hart has been nothing short of amazing this year. The team in front of him outside of a few guys, not so much. We have seen major regression from guys like Laughton, Hayes, Provorov and even Sanheim as of late. Hart has kept this team in games, but watching that Penguins loss, you know there is only so much a goalie can do when his team is just imploding in front of him. There are plenty of defensive players out there that you can make a move for and end up doing what Tampa did with Kucherov and put Ellis on the IR now that you have the taxi squad available as well.

At some point, push comes to shove, and I am not advocating to blow this team up, but you absolutely need to bring help to this team and bring in more veterans. Fletcher also needs to decide whether he wants to fill out Yeo’s staff or go get a coach who can turn this season around. There is a certain ex-Flyer who is certainly waiting for a phone call. Things need to change and change soon. Actually, they need to change starting tonight.

Projected Lineup

Farabee – Giroux – Atkinson

van Riemsdyk – Hayes – Mayhew

Lindblom – Laughton – Konecny

Cates – Frost – MacEwen

Provorov – Braun

York – Sanheim

Yandle – Seeler

Hart

New York Islanders

Record:11-13-6 (28 points, 8th in the Metro)

While the Islanders haven’t been playing great hockey, they also have been plagued with injuries and COVID all season. They have been postponed multiple times this season and it is a real shame, but every team has or is dealing with this so excuses are not allowed to sit on the table for any team to use at this point of the season.

Now the Islanders have also played six fewer games then any team except for the Hurricanes who have five games on them. Now while this seems like a rough spot to be in for the Islanders considering all the back to backs they may have to play, it is also a situation any team being that low in the standings would want. That means there are 12 points just sitting there waiting to see if the Islanders can eventually scoop them up.

The Islanders come into tonight’s game 3-1-1 in their last five and 6-3-1 in their last 10 games. They are coming off of a shutout by the Capitals in their last game. This team has been slowly putting it together but it may be too late for them to be able to make any sort of playoff run.

Mathew Barzal is of course leading the team in points and assists with 22 points and 15 assists, adding in seven goals. Brock Nelson and Anders Lee both lead the team in goals with 10 a piece but have been very short on the apple side of the stat sheet. Nelson has three assists, giving him 13 points and Lee has two assists, leaving him with 12 points. As you can see, the teams best players are having issues not only finding the back of the net, but their teammates as well.

Projected Lineup

Lee – Barzal – Bailey

Bellows – Nelson – Beauvillier

Parise – Pageau – Wahlstrom

Martin – Cizikas – Clutterbuck

Pelech – Mayfield

Chara – Dobson

Salo – Greene

Sorokin

When, Where, and How to Watch

Time: 7:00 p.m.

Where: UBS Arena

TV Broadcast: NBCSP

Radio Broadcast: 97.5 the Fanatic

Live Stream: Fubo TV

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