Game 3 Preview: Islanders vs Flyers

NEW YORK ISLANDERS VS PHILADELPHIA FLYERS
GM 3 | AUG. 29 | 7 PM | SCOTIABANK ARENA
BEST-OF-SEVEN SERIES TIED 1-1
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The Islanders look to regain their Second-Round series lead and bounce back after suffering a 4-3 overtime loss to the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 2 on Wednesday afternoon.

Game 3 will be a crucial "swing game" for both teams beginning at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday night at Scotiabank Arena. Initially, Game 3 was scheduled for Thursday night and was to be the second leg of the Isles back-to-back set, but was rescheduled for Saturday night.
The NHL and NHLPA
postponed all games on Thursday and Friday after the players started an initiative to show support and solidarity in
ending racial and social injustice
.

RECAP OF GAME 2:

While the Islanders were unable to pull out the 'W' in Game 2, there were still positives in their performance and areas they hope to build off of heading into their pivotal Game 3.
"I liked the fact that we were resilient," Head Coach Barry Trotz said. "We hung in there and found a way to get it 3-3. There was no quit on our bench.
"A loss is a loss and we've got to put it behind us and focus on [Game 3]," Trotz continued. "It's a swing game. Game 3, we're tied 1-1 [in the series]."

The loss stung, especially after the Isles' resilient effort that sent the game into overtime when they had previously dug themselves into a 3-0 hole. Philadelphia got off to a 3-0 start in the first period, on goals from Kevin (2G) and Sean Couturier, after which Semyon Varlamov was pulled in favor of Thomas Greiss, who saw his first action since the Islanders exhibition game against the New York Rangers on July 29.
The Islanders showed resolve in the second period, as Anders Lee converted on their first power play of the game. In the second period, Anthony Beauvillier scored on a transition play and then Jean-Gabriel Pageau sent the game into overtime with 2:09 on the clock. In overtime, Philadelphia's Phillippe Myers sealed the win 2:41 into play with a sizzling slap shot.
"You want to complete the comeback, that's the disappointing part," Trotz said. "The positive is that it reinforces a lot of the positives that you were able to do to get back in the game. You can take a lot of good from that. It is taxing in terms that we were investing and pushing them back. They had some hard minutes. Hopefully, it multiplies as we play more and more games."
During the regular season, the Isles were 5-3-0 in the front-half and 6-1-1 in the back-half of back-to-back sets. Throughout two seasons under Head Coach Barry Trotz, the Isles are 17-2-2 in back-ends.

VARLAMOV'S PLAYOFF SHUTOUT RECORD, GREISS SOLID IN RELIEF:

Varlamov entered Game 2 having just completed two-straight 4-0 shutouts, one in Game 5 against Washington on Aug. 18 and the other in Game 1 against the Flyers on Aug. 24.
ISLES-FLYERS GAME 3
ISLES-FLYERS ARTICLES
Updated Islanders-Flyers Schedule
Statement from the New York Islanders
ISLES-FLYERS VIDEO
Barry Trotz Availability 8/28
Isles Player Availability: 8/28
NHL Player Statement 8/27
Trotz Availability 8/27
ISLES PLAYOFF PROMOS
Play Fan Faceoff
Playoff Auction
Playoff Getup Challenge
Playoff Beard Challenge
Varlamov set a new franchise record as he surpassed legendary netminder Billy Smith's previous record of 136:59. Varlamov's new record extended to 138:17, before Hayes scored his first goal of the outing. In his 10th start of the postseason, Varlamov made seven saves on 10 shots before being relieved by Greiss after 15:09.
"We didn't give him any help," Lee said. "That's not on Varly, that's on us in front of him. He's backed us up enough. We can do a better job of giving him better looks and not so many Grade A [chances] in the first 10 minutes of the game."
Greiss hadn't suited up since the Islanders exhibition game, but was solid despite having not seen game action in almost a month. Throughout 47:32, Greiss turned aside 20 shots.
"He was solid," Trotz said of Greiss. "He made a couple of key saves for us. He looked very comfortable which is a great sign. That's a positive for his attitude and his work ethic with our goaltending department. As we say, 'You have to be ready in the playoffs,' and he was definitely ready."
The Islanders have relied on their goalie depth all season long and their tandem's contagious confidence and camaraderie with one another. Trotz did not clarify who would get the nod for Game 3.
"That's the coach's decision," Greiss said. "We'll see what happens there, but I'm always ready."

BLAZING BEAUVILLIER:

Throughout the entirety of the Isles' postseason run, Beauvillier holds the hot hand. The winger scored his seventh goal of the postseason and his third in as many games. With seven goals, Beauvillier is now tied for the second most in the NHL tied with Colorado's Nathan MacKinnnon and Dallas' Joe Pavelski, one goal behind the current leader in Vancouver's Bo Horvat (8).
Through 11 games, the 23-year-old winger has compiled 10 points (7G, 3A), second on the team.
Josh Bailey earned his team-best 10th assist on Beauvillier's goal and now has 11 points in as many games. The veteran winger holds the team lead in assists and points.

PIVOTAL POWER PLAY:

The Isles power play went 1-for-3 in the outing, but provided a clutch goal to get the Isles on the board en route to their attempted comeback. Lee's goal was the Isles seventh of their 42 attempts in the postseason, just 17 seconds into the man advantage 11:45 into the second period.
Lee also fired off a team-high of eight shots on net throughout the game.

RISING RESILIENT IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY:

All season long, the Isles have preached the need for staying resilient and embracing the challenges of adversity with a positive mindset and honest effort. Despite the eventual result of Game 2, the Isles were proud of how there was 'no quit on their bench' and look to build off the successes they did have, while also refining the areas that cost them the win.
"We've got to move on from [Game 2]," Lee said. "This one stings a bit because we worked so hard to get back - but there's no other choice but to look onto [Game 3], to regroup and to recover. You're going to face adversity at times, we faced it tonight and overcame a little bit of it, but came up short. We'll grow and learn from this and move on."
Trotz offered a similar piece of advice to his players.
"Let it go," Trotz said. "Understand how you can be better. You can't get the game that just happened. You've got to get the next one. Playoffs, you almost have to be like a goaltender and focus on the next save. The next save will be [Game 3], we'll have to focus on that.

Video: Second Round, Gm2: Islanders @ Flyers

FLYERS NOTES:

• Coming into Wednesday's contest, the Flyers opted for a few lineup changes following a 4-0 loss in Game 1. James Van Riemsdyk and Robert Hagg were both inserted into the lineup for Scott Laughton and Shayne Gostisbehere.
• The Flyers are 8-0 in the postseason when scoring the first goal.
• The Flyers continued their trend of winning the next game following a loss, going 10-0-0 since Jan. 8 without back-to-back losses.
• Flyers netminder, Carter Hart - who is just 22-years-old - played a big game against the Isles. Through Hart's 62:41 of time between the pipes he made 31 saves and earned his seventh win of the postseason.