Despite a strong performance, Flyers drop ninth straight in shootout to Islanders

Even when the Flyers play what can be considered one of their best games in quite some time, it still isn’t enough. Largely outplaying the Islanders for 60 minutes, it took overtime and a shootout to determine a winner. And unfortunately, Philadelphia wasn’t the one to take home the extra point.

It can get extremely frustrating when a team is playing the way they want to and still not getting the results. Even when the effort was there, the Flyers still couldn’t put the final piece of the puzzle together. Throughout the entire game, it was obvious that Philadelphia had the stronger game over the Islanders. Though, it didn’t start off looking like that.

The Islanders were able to get on the board quickly to start this one off. It was Mathew Barzal who made easy work of the Flyers defense and found a wide open Robin Salo. A night after originally getting his first NHL goal and having it taken away, there was no denying Salo of this one. He was able to take a few strides and rip one past Carter Hart.

Joel Farabee looked like he had tied to game shortly after taking a hooking penalty. But it was Barry Trotz with the successful challenge of offsides. Even though that play happened well before the goal was scored, it did not matter. But despite that, the Flyers seemed to find the next gear in their game and began to take over. A night after special teams didn’t look sharp, their power play connected.

James van Riemdsyk, right in his office in the front of the net, got a few knocks at the puck and was able to beat Semyon Varlamov. It was Cam York whose shot hit off the end boards and came out in front of the net.

The Flyers continued to control the pace of the game in the second period, but it was Josh Bailey who put the Islanders in front once again. Philadelphia wasn’t able to clear the puck out of the zone as Anthony Beauvillier found Bailey at the front. The latter was able to kick the puck to himself and slip it past Hart for the go-ahead goal.

These are moments where the Flyers haven’t been able to respond in recent games. Instead, 26 seconds later, Travis Konecny grabbed his second go in as many nights to tie it back up. Varlamov wasn’t able to cleanly take care of the puck behind the net as Scott Laughton was able to create some chaos. The puck eventually made its way to Konecny quickly shot it through the chaos.

It was much the same in the third period as Philadelphia once again was controlling a large amount of play. As he’s done a lot throughout the season, Claude Giroux took matters into his own hands to grab the lead. He was able to split two defenders and completely fooled Varlamov with the shot.

And for awhile, it looked like the Flyers were going to be able to hold on. The Islanders turned up the pressure but Hart was standing tall in net. That was until there was about four and a half minutes remaining in the third. Casey Cizikas also scored his second goal in as many nights. Scott Mayfield was able to fight off Gerry Mayhew and find Cizikas at the slot. He too was able to fight off his man, Justin Braun, and was able to redirect the puck in.

And what a surprise, off to overtime we went. It wouldn’t be a game between the Flyers and Islanders if it didn’t need extra time. And everyone got their money’s worth in that five minute period. Both Hart and Varlamov made tremendous saves to keep the game going.

It would need a shootout, and a lengthy one at that. Nine rounds, eighteen shooters took their chance before we finally found a winner. It was Oliver Wahlstrom with the only goal in the shootout to give the Islanders the extra point. And the losing streak is now at nine games.

The Flyers will welcome back an old friend in Jakub Voracek on Thursday as the Columbus Blue Jackets come to town.