Flyers use OT to defeat Islanders in Game 2, even Eastern Second Round

Philippe Myers scored 2:41 into overtime, and the Philadelphia Flyers defeated the New York Islanders 4-3 in Game 2 to even the Eastern Conference Second Round series at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on Wednesday.

Sean Couturier won a battle behind the New York net and got the puck to Myers at the point on the right side, and his shot through traffic deflected off the stick of Islanders forward Anders Lee and beat Thomas Greiss.
"Couturier] gave me the puck low to high," Myers said. "I saw that I had a lane. I was trying to get it on net, and it went in."
***[WATCH: [All Islanders vs. Flyers highlights]*
Kevin Hayes had the first two-goal game of his NHL postseason career, and Couturier scored for Philadelphia. Carter Hart made 31 saves.
The Flyers are 11-0-0 after a loss since Jan. 7, including 3-0 during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. They lost Game 1 4-0 on Tuesday.
"When you lose Game 1 and your next two games are back to back, Game 2 is a pretty important game," Hayes said. "Every game is important, but tonight was probably the most important game of the season."

Game 3 of the best-of-7 series, scheduled for Thursday, was
postponed
and will be played Saturday (7 p.m. ET; NBCSN, SN, CBC, TVAS) in Toronto, the East hub city.
Lee, Anthony Beauvillier and Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored for New York. Thomas Greiss made 20 saves in relief of Semyon Varlamov, who was pulled after allowing three goals on 10 shots in the first period. Varlamov's shutout streak ended at 138:17, an Islanders playoff record. Billy Smith had a streak of 136:59 in 1980.
"We did some good things," said Lee, the Islanders captain. "Obviously, the start wasn't what we wanted. They came out and they were playing well, you've got to give them credit. They've got a good team. I thought we just keep battling and sticking with it. Once you get to overtime, sometimes that's all it takes. They get one off the shaft and it goes in."
Philadelphia led 3-1 entering the third period and New York scored twice to cause overtime.
Beauvillier finished a give-and-go with Josh Bailey at 11:11 to make it 3-2. It was his seventh goal of the postseason, the most by an Islanders player since Ray Ferraro (13) and Steve Thomas (nine) in 1993.

Pageau tied it 3-3 from the slot with 2:09 remaining. The goal was upheld after Flyers coach Alain Vigneault challenged for offside.
"I thought we just stuck with it," Pageau said. "We came back after the first, refocused, made sure we were coming back and just getting back to the simple things, work hard, and do all the simple plays and get back as a unit of five and attack as a unit of five. I thought we did a really good job in the second and in the third to put pressure on them, and that's why we came back."
Hayes gave Philadelphia a 1-0 lead at 1:57 of the first period, beating Varlamov to the short side with a shot from the left circle.
Hayes made it 2-0 at 9:43, and Couturier extended the lead to 3-0 at 15:09 when he cut through the New York zone and scored inside the left post.
It was Couturier's first goal in 11 games this postseason; he was third on the Flyers with 22 during the regular season.
"We know we have another level to our game, and we need to bring it," he said. "Tonight was a step forward. We were skating well, we established a good forecheck, created a lot of chances. Would be nice to capitalize on a few more, but at least we're getting some chances, some good looks and we can build off that."

Vigneault said he didn't doubt the center would be a big contributor. Besides scoring and setting up the winning goal, Couturier led the Flyers with four shots on goal, won nine of 16 face-offs and played 20:31, most among Philadelphia forwards.
"Sean's will to do well and play well is unquestionable," Vigneault said. "He's trying to play his best and put his best game on the ice. ... Without a doubt his effort combined with his playmaking ability was a big part of us getting the win."
Greiss entered after Couturier's goal. He had not played since July 29, when he made seven saves on eight shots in the third period of a 2-1 exhibition win against the New York Rangers.
"I was looking for a spark," Islanders coach Barry Trotz said. "I thought we didn't help [Varlamov] enough. Three goals ... I think it was on nine shots, and I just was looking for something a little bit different. Not his fault. We didn't give him enough support there."

Lee made it 3-1 with a power-play goal at 11:45 of the second period.
NHL.com deputy managing editor Brian Compton contributed to this report