Dan Vladar steals game to get Flyers 2 crucial points

The Philadelphia Flyers entered Friday night’s contest against the New York Islanders hoping to escape with two crucial points. That’s exactly what they did following a solid all-around performance.

The Flyers capitalized on an early mishap by the Isles’ defense, and then added two more tallies to open up a 3-0 lead about three minutes into the second period. When the final buzzer sounded, the Flyers skated away with a 4-1 win and two huge points.

The victory pulled the Flyers into a four-way tie with the Ottawa Senators, Detroit Red Wings, and Columbus Blue Jackets in the Eastern Conference playoff race. All four clubs have 88 points. However, the Senators have the momentary lead over the Flyers for that elusive second wild card spot due to the tiebreaker.

But we wouldn’t be talking about the Flyers’ being on the doorstep of a playoff berth if it weren’t for the performance by Dan Vladar. The Flyers' netminder essentially stole the two points from the Islanders with a gutsy performance.

Vladar stopped 21 shots, including 11 in the second period, to keep the Islanders at bay. The Flyers' goalie had to make several key saves to keep Philly ahead.

This unbelievable sequence, with the game 3-0 midway through the second, derailed the Islanders’ chances of getting back in the game.

The Islanders had about three chances to score, with Vladar making a spectacular save on a point shot. Had the Islanders scored on that sequence, the game’s momentum could have shifted.

But they didn’t, and the Flyers pulled out a gritty win to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Tocchet praises Flyers' moxie in tough road game

The win was all the more impressive as the Flyers hit the road to face a rested Islanders team. But that didn’t stop Philly from pulling out the win.

Following the game, head coach Rick Tocchet praised his team’s performance.

“A lot of resilience from our team… I loved the energy, especially early. It’s a tough building to come in, too. They had a couple of days' rest. I thought, when they pulled their goalie, we handled the pressure pretty good. We used the bench, everybody contributed tonight.”

Indeed, the full-team effort was the difference between fading in the playoff race and pulling right into the thick of it. Vladar was the catalyst for one of the Flyers’ best games of this season. The sort of momentum they’re building, if the Flyers make the playoffs, could make them a very tough out for whoever they face.

The focus will now turn to another crucial matchup on Sunday afternoon as the Flyers host the Boston Bruins. Another win could catapult the Flyers into a playoff spot. They’ll need some help on the scoreboard, but things are looking good for a late-season surge.