Six Takeaways From the Isles Series Win Over the Flyers

Party like it's 1993.
The New York Islanders have advanced to the Eastern Conference Final for the first time in 27 years after beating the Philadelphia Flyers in seven games.
How long has it been since the Isles were this far? Consider Mat Barzal, Anthony Beauvillier and Ryan Pulock weren't born yet. Mrs. Doubtfire and Jurassic Park were in theatres. Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You" was at the top of the charts.

If you're an Isles fan under 30, this is the furthest you've ever seen your team progress and even if it's only halfway to the ultimate goal - or slightly over halfway in this year's playoffs - it's something worth celebrating at least for a night.

These playoffs are going to be largely remembered for happening in August inside of a bubble and during a pandemic. For Islanders fans, it'll be a memorable season based on merit, advancing to the final four and knocking out two of the top four teams in the Eastern Conference along the way.
It's no fluke, or massive underdog story either, as the Isles have forced teams to play their game, dominated at five-on-five and have gotten production from up and down their lineup. They've gotten this far by being structured, reliable, committed and by keeping a singular focus.
As a result, they'll be one of the final four teams left and have a legitimate shot to win the Eastern Conference and the Stanley Cup. Halfway there. It doesn't get any easier in Edmonton.
That said, here are five takeaways from the Islanders-Flyers series:

Video: Isles Advance to Eastern Conference Final

1. The Offense is Clicking:

As much as the Isles defense and structure has been their calling card under Barry Trotz, it's their offense that was a constant over the Flyers in the second round.
The Islanders scored at least three goals in every game and have scored three-or-more goals in eight-straight contests dating back to their series clincher vs the Capitals. The Isles are 9-3 when scoring three goals and 2-2 when they do not.
They're not just scoring a lot for a defense-first team, they're averaging 3.38 goals-per-game in the postseason, first among remaining teams and third of the 24-team field that entered the bubble.
Eleven different Islanders found the back of the net vs the Flyers, and 18 of 20 skaters recorded at least a point. Brock Nelson led the Isles with eight points (4G, 4A) in the series, as their top-six forwards stepped up.
"We've had a pretty balanced scoresheet up and down our roster, contributions from the D today, every line getting in on it," Nelson said after Game 7. "Guys stepping up and making plays at the right time. We're doing good things to create some chances and capitalize on them. I think we've had that strategy and results for a couple of series now and that's part of the reason we're here today."
The top line was especially good. Mathew Barzal had six points (2G, 4A) - and showed a lot of grit playing through various stick cuts and extra attention from the Flyers - while Anders Lee (4G) and Jordan Eberle (6A) consistently created quality looks in each game. As a trio, the Lee-Barzal-Eberle line was on the ice for 33 high-danger chances for and only 14 against at five-on-five in the series.
Josh Bailey finished the series with six points (2G, 4A) and leads the team with 17 points (2G, 15A) in the series, one assist shy of the league lead. Anthony Beauvillier had three points (2G, 1A) and Derick Brassard notched five points (2G, 3A) in five games after being scratched early in the series.
It wasn't just the skill guys getting it done for the Isles either. Matt Martin (2G), Andy Greene (2G), Scott Mayfield (1G) and Leo Komarov (1G) combined for six tallies, helping the Isles get over the hump in Games 3 and 7.

2. Isles Find Ways to Win:

Barry Trotz used some interesting words to describe his team during the series, calling his team average after Game 1 and highlighting Game 4 as their worst game of the postseason.
Here's another word for those two games: wins.
The mark of a good team is one that finds a way to win, even when they're not at their best. The Flyers had their pushes in the series, notably outshooting the Isles 17-3 - and holding New York without a shot for a 10-minute stretch - in the second period of Game 4, but the Isles still managed to survive, reset and get back to their game and win.
They showed resilience after a pair of overtime losses in Games 5 and 6, roaring back for a dominating defensive performance in Game 7, where they allowed 16 shots against, their fewest in a game in the postseason.
Even in two of their losses, the Isles rallied from a pair of multi-goal deficits to force overtime, coming back from 3-0 in Game 2, and 2-0 in Game 6. The Isles certainly won't quit and have found a variety of ways to win in the playoffs.
"The great thing is getting the two points and you can get them in different ways. But you know that you can play better and that's the comforting thing," Trotz said after a win in Game 4. "You've got to find ways to win and we've got a comfort level, I use the term becoming comfortable when it's uncomfortable."

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3. Isles Ground Flyers Big Guns:

While the Isles top players have found the scoresheet, the Isles managed to contain the Flyers big guns. After recording seven points (3G, 4A) vs Montreal, Jakub Voracek went pointless in Games 1-4 and finished the series with one assist.
Travis Konecny, who led Philly in points in the regular season, mustered one assist in Games 1-4 and finished the series with four helpers. James van Riemsdyk, the Flyers' fifth-leading goal scorer during the season, had two goals in six games, while captain Claude Giroux had one goal in seven contests.
Kevin Hayes was the Flyers top scorer with six points (3G, 3A) in seven games, while Sean Couturier - a Selke finalist - finished with four points (2G, 2A) in six games. Part of that is the ebb and flow of the playoffs and part of that is the strength of Isles defensive structure, which was at its peak in Game 7.
Either way, the Isles were able to ground the Flyers top players and hold the Flyers to 16 goals for the entire series (2.28 per game).

Video: NYI@PHI, Gm1: Varlamov shuts out Flyers in Game 1

4. Two-Goalie System:

Barry Trotz has professed his confidence in both of his goaltenders - and the Isles-Flyers series showed why.
Both Semyon Varlamov and Thomas Greiss picked up wins, marking the first time since 1985 that two Isles netminders recorded wins in a single postseason. Both goalies picked up 4-0 shutouts too, the first time two Isles goalies had shutouts in the same playoffs since 1979, with Varlamov pitching one in Game 1, while Greiss coming in as a closer in Game 7.
Trotz usually lets Piero Greco and Mitch Korn handle the goalies, but Trotz and the goalie department had their pulse on the Isles crease.
After getting pulled in the first period of Game 2, Varlamov bounced-back with a strong 26-save performance in Game 3. No one would have blamed Trotz for going back to Varlamov in Game 4 - the second night of a back-to-back - but the coach sensed Varlamov could use a break and had no qualms about using Greiss.
The result - a clutch, 36-save performance from Greiss, who buoyed the Isles in a lopsided second period in Game 4. Trotz went back to Varlamov in Games 5 and 6, but after a pair of losses, the coach made a gutsy call in Game 7 to go to Greiss. A Game 7 assignment might be too much for some backups - or 1B in Greiss' case - but not for the unflappable German, who delivered a 16-save shutout.
"[It was] Game 16 for us and we've played that really over a relatively short time," Trotz explained of his decision. "The last two game they got to Varly a little bit in terms of that - and he's played a lot of great hockey for us - but I wanted the freshness. We wouldn't be at this point without both of those guys. I was looking for some freshness. I also knew that Greisser - with his demeanor - he'd be a good choice for us. We've been blessed with two goalies."
Regardless of who is in net, the Isles have two capable options and will need both as they continue on.

5. Special Teams Shine

As good as the Isles were at even strength, their special teams raised their level against the Flyers.
The penalty kill was a perfect 13-for-13 in the series, holding the Flyers to 11 shots, which both spoke to both how good - and aggressive - their shorthanded unit was, but also to their discipline. Consider this, the Isles 13 penalty kills (33 minutes) was the fewest by any team in a seven-game series since 1945.
After going 2-for-22 (9.1%) on the power play vs the Capitals, the Isles went 4-for-21 (19%) against the Flyers. Three of the four power-play goals came in losses, but they were able to generate 33 shots and plenty of momentum even if the goals weren't as timely.

Video: NYI@PHI, Gm7: Isles, Flyers shake hands at center ice

6. Isles Thrive in Third Periods

The Islanders have owned third periods during the playoffs, outscoring opponents at a 22-7 clip. They outscored Philadelphia 11-3 in the third periods in the series, holding the Flyers without a second-or-third period goal until Game 4.
As games get longer, the Isles just seem to get better, which speaks to the maturity and comfort level on the bench in tight games.
"For us, it's just our belief in each other," Devon Toews said. "We're such a close-knit team. The attitude on the bench is so positive. Everyone is ready to go. It's a next-shift mentality when we're going through. Especially - in that third period - we were just going. That belief in each other drives us."