Flyers Outwork Islanders in 2-1 Victory
The Philadelphia Flyers skated to a workmanlike 2-1 win over the New York Islanders at the Wells Fargo Center on Sunday afternoon. Philly trailed 1-0 after the first period but then scored twice in the middle frame and closed it out in a scoreless third period.
Even strength and power play goals by Kevin Hayes, both assisted by Joel Farabee and Travis Konecny, catapulted the Flyers from a deficit to a lead. Although there was no additional scoring, the Flyers collectively outworked their opponents over the course of the game on both sides of the puck.
"I think just with [Claude Giroux] leaving I think there’s a lot of opportunity for other guys, obviously we’re not where we want to be in this season but we got something to prove I think to ourselves and to our teammates for next year and games to follow. I think with the absence of G I think some other guys have got to step up," Farabee said.
"It’s kind of a new era almost in a sense I feel. I thought just talking to TK we have a little more responsibility which I think we both embrace and we want to be the best players we can be and just trying to be a leader out there, lead by example, whatever it takes and I think just try and build something here."
A goal by New York center Casey Cizikas (8th goal of the season) that was accidentally deflected by Flyers counterpart Patrick Brown stood as the lone tally for either team in the first period. Kevin Hayes (6th) converted an Islanders turnover into a goal that tied the score at 1-1 less than five minutes into the second period. Later in the period, a Hayes power play goal (7th) made it 2-1 in the Flyers' favor. In the third period, the Islanders were largely held at bay until making a moderate late-game push.
Carter Hart was solid in net, stopping 26 of 27 Islanders' shots to earn the win. Ilya Sorokin, the busier and more severely tested of the two goalies, denied 35 of 37 Flyers' shot in a losing cause.
The Flyers went 1-for-4 on the power play and showed improved puck movement. The Islanders went 0-for-1.
Defenseman Ivan Provorov led the Flyers in ice time on Sunday, skating 23:04 (Travis Sanheim skated 23:03). Provorov blocked three shots, recorded three shots on goal, defended well and was clean with the puck. Yeo closed his press conference by saying that he wanted to call attention to Provorov's performance, although he had not been asked about it.
Owen Tippett made his Flyers debut in Sunday's game. He played right wing on a line with Morgan Frost and Oskar Lindblom. Tippett skated 14:38 of ice time, forechecking well and generating two shots on goal on six attempts.
"He looks like a hockey player to me," Yeo said of Tippett. "I loved parts of his game, obviously a heavy shot, scoring chances in the second period. Got off his stick in a hurry. I liked him shooting off the flank on the power play to set up Hayes’ power play goal. Liked his wall play in a lot of areas and like I said in the coaches room there, for a guy who when I talked to him this morning said he was working on his 200-foot game, which means he’s trying to improve defensively, I didn’t have anything to point out or say to him today. So obviously a great start for him."
Yeo also praised Frost's performance, calling it one of the most complete games he's seen from the player as a center. Frost did not record a point in the game -- three scoring chances he set up were not finished off nor did Frost himself finish off a point-blank power play opportunity in the second period that ended up getting blocked by Zdeno Chara -- but Yeo said he was very happy with Frost's process with and without the puck and across all three zones on the ice.
Frost's best offensive games in the NHL this season have come when he's played on left wing rather than center. Yeo has said the team is thin at center at present and called on Frost to embrace all of the details that go along with playing center at the NHL level.
After two strong games on Claude Giroux's left wing prior to the Flyers trading their longtime captain to the Florida Panthers, Frost was back at center in Friday's game in Ottawa and had a rough night along with most of the team. After the Ottawa game, Yeo noted that there are different challenges involved in being an NHL center vs. an NHL winger and said that Frost would be a center for now. Following Sunday's game, Yeo said he was quite pleased with how Frost performed against the Islanders.
"I've played center most of my career, so I'm comfortable with that," Frost said. "But it's a good thing [to be able to move from center to wing and back again as needed] to have in your playbook."
Asked about playing on a line with Tippett, Frost noted that they were teammates on Team Canada at the 2018-19 World Junior Championships. They'd also played against each other multiple times in the Ontario Hockey League and American Hockey League.
"I actually knew Tipper before. We played together on Team Canada in the juniors not on the same line but together so it was nice. I’ve always enjoyed watching him play. It’s nice to be on the same team and same line as him. I thought we did some good things," Frost said.
For an in-depth synopsis, analysis and highlights from Sunday's game, see the Postgame 5 on PhiladelphiaFlyers.com.
The Flyers (20-31-11) will travel on Monday to Detroit. On Tuesday evening, the team will visit the Detroit Red Wings (25-30-7) for a 7:30 p.m. ET.
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NHL Trade Deadline Day: Flyers Outlook
Today is the NHL trade deadline -- or, more accurately, the day in which NHL (and AHL) playoff eligible rosters must be finalized and submitted. Sellers this year, the Flyers could move one or more players by the 3 p.m. ET deadline.
On Sunday, the Flyers held veteran defenseman Justin Braun out of the lineup. The 35-year-old right-handed blueliner has drawn interest from multiple teams that are gearing up for the playoffs. There is a significant possibility that the shot-blocking, penalty killing regular will be on the move although it is not a lock.
There is also a chance that one or both of center/winger Derick Brassard and goaltender Martin Jones could be traded to a playoff-bound or playoff-bubble team looking to add depth. There is a small possibility that veteran defenseman Keith Yandle (who has a no-trade clause in his contract) could be traded.
James van Riemsdyk has one season remaining on his current contract. Theoretically, however, if the Flyers could find a taker in exchange for salary cap retention for the remainder of his deal through 2022-23, that may also be a possibility in lieu of a potential buyout this summer.
On Sunday, the Flyers lost forward Gerry Mayhew to the Anaheim Ducks via waiver claim. The Flyers now have four open slots for 2021-22 contracts. The team is expected to sign collegiate draftees Bobby Brink, Ronnie Attard and Noah Cates this spring. There is also interest in getting Russian goalie Ivan Fedotov signed, although his contract would not kick in until the 2022-23 season. Additionally, 2020 draftee Connor McClennon (38 goals, 67 points in 51 games this season for the WHL powerhouse Winnipeg Ice) is also unsigned at present.
At the AHL level, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms are six points behind the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for the final playoff spot in the Atlantic Division. The Flyers could make a few on-paper moves -- assigning Morgan Frost, Cam York and/or Max Willman to the Phantoms and then recalling them on Tuesday -- to make those players available for the Calder Cup playoffs should the Phantoms qualify for postseason play. Doing so would burn up available non-emergency post-deadline recalls.