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Wrap: Flyers Drop 2-1 Decision to the Islanders

February 7, 2023, 3:17 AM ET [211 Comments]
Bill Meltzer
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Wrap: Flyers Drop 2-1 Decision to the Islanders

In the first game after the All-Star break and the start of a four-game homestand, the Philadelphia Flyers (21-22-9) came up one goal short in a 2-1 loss to the New York Islanders (26-22-5) at the Wells Faro Center on Monday evening.

The game, ultimately, could have swung either way but the Flyers paid dearly for an first-period interference penalty, a blown wing-on-D coverage in the second period, a generally slow start to the game and three failed power plays.

The final 40 minutes of the game were fairly even with an edge to the Flyers in the second period and several near-miss scoring chances among a generally modest number of scoring opportunities. It wasn't a bad effort from the Flyers but it wasn't good enough.

Owen Tippett was the best Flyers forward in this game. He didn't get on the scoresheet but he blocked several shots early and created several chances in transition for his team. James van Riemsdyk had a pair of point blank chances denied on a power play. In the later stages of the third period, Joel Farabee had a lane to the net for a potential deflection of a shot-pass but arrived just a half stride too late. That was a microcosm of the game, along with passes that were slightly off the mark.

Philly came into the game looking to avoid the dreaded bad first period coming off a long break in the schedule -- the Islanders were off just as long -- but they just weren't sharp in the opening stanza.

The Flyers were heavily outshot and outchanced in the first period. A power play goal by Kyle Palmieri (7th of the season) at 17:07 was the only goal of the stanza for either team. It frankly could have been much worse for the Flyers.

In the second period, a deflection goal by Mathew Barzal (13th) at 8:18 was soon answered back by a Nicolas Deslauriers (3rd) deflection tally at 10:39. The Flyers played a much stronger middle stanza compared to the first period but exited with another one-goal deficit.

The tight-checking third period was scoreless. Final shots on goal were 30-26 in the Islanders' favor. Carter Hart stopped 28 of 30 shots in a losing cause. Semyon Varlamov earned the win with 25 saves.

The Flyers went 0-for-2 on the power play. The Islanders were 1-for-3.

For a detailed period-by-period synopsis, highlights, analysis and more from Monday's game, see the Postgame 5 on PhiladelphiaFlyers.com.

The Flyers have an off-day on Tuesday. On Wednesday, they will practice at the FTC in Voorhees in preparation from hosting the Edmonton Oilers the next night. Thursday's Game against the Oilers will be 2010s Night in the Throwback Thursday series of games.
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