Islanders shut out Flyers in Game 7, advance to Eastern Conference Final

Thomas Greiss made 16 saves and the New York Islanders defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 4-0 in Game 7 to win their Eastern Conference Second Round series at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on Saturday.

The Islanders advance to play the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Eastern Conference Final, with Game 1 of that best-of-7 series at Rogers Place in Edmonton on Monday (8 p.m. ET; NBCSN, SN, CBC, TVAS). It's the first time New York has reached a conference final since 1993.
"I liked the way we played, I liked our mentality today and we stayed to our identity," Islanders coach Barry Trotz said. "We wanted to play well on the right side of people and we got contributions through the lineup. Obviously, two defensemen scored, some really good plays, good goaltending, and our special teams were pretty good. You have a chance to win when you play like that."
WATCH: [All Islanders vs. Flyers highlights]
Greiss replaced Semyon Varlamov, who started 14 of the Islanders' first 15 postseason games (Greiss started Game 4 against the Flyers).
"It was an unreal game, best game I've seen the team play," Greiss said after his first Stanley Cup Playoff Game 7. "They took most of the stuff away. Happy we got the win here."
Carter Hart made 22 saves for Philadelphia, the No. 1 seed.
"Game 5, Game 6 we got the job done, we were able to get some big goals, play the right way," Flyers forward Claude Giroux said. "Game 7 wasn't the case."
Varlamov allowed nine goals in the past two games, each an overtime loss that prevented New York from ending the series.
"The last two games they got to [Varlamov] a little bit in terms of that, and he's played a lot of great hockey for us," Trotz said. "I wanted the freshness. ... I also knew that with 'Greisser,' just his demeanor, that he'd be a good choice for us. We've been blessed with two goalies. You try to ride the hot guy as long as you can, and if you have to go to the next guy, you do that."
Brock Nelson had a goal and two assists, and Scott Mayfield, Andy Greene and Anthony Beauvillier scored for New York, the No. 6 seed.

Mayfield gave the Islanders a 1-0 lead at 9:27 of the first period with his first NHL postseason goal in his 26th game.
"Game-winner in Game 7 to go to the Eastern Conference Final, I don't think anyone thought I'd be scoring it," Mayfield said. "But I had a lane and just happy I could put it away."
The goal seemed to take the energy out of the Flyers.
"I really liked our start to tonight's game," Philadelphia coach Alain Vigneault said. "I thought the first six minutes we were on our toes, we were making plays, we were playing in their end. After they scored that first goal we just never had the same bounce, had the same pop. Very disappointing to our whole group."
Greene made it 2-0 at 13:12 with a goal from the left circle.

Nelson scored to make it 3-0 at 11:26 of the second period, finishing a 2-on-1 with Josh Bailey.
New York scored at least three goals in each game of the series.
"Everybody wants to score goals and get on the attack," Nelson said. "Thought we had a pretty balanced score sheet up and down the roster. Contributions from the [defensemen] today, every line getting in on it, guys stepping up and making plays at the right time. We were doing good things to create chances and capitalize on them."
Greiss preserved the lead and shutout with seven saves in the third period.
"Anytime a goalie gets a shutout in a Game 7, you've got to give it to him," Mayfield said. "He played unbelievable, some big saves. Just the way he came in after not playing a couple, there was kind of some talk about who was going to be in net, and he got the nod and ran with it. Couldn't be more happy for him. Great teammate, great guy, so I'm really happy for him."
Beauvillier scored an empty-net goal with 6:18 left in the third period to make it 4-0.
Flyers forward Sean Couturier played despite a sprained MCL in his knee sustained in a collision with Islanders forward Mathew Barzal with 2:34 left in the second period of Game 5. Couturier was unfit to play in Game 6.
"Couldn't go last game, Game 6, but I thought I could help the team tonight and give it a go," Couturier said.
NOTES: Flyers forward Oskar Lindblom played 16:42 with one hit and one blocked shot. It was his second game after he returned in Game 6 following cancer treatments that ended in July. ... Greiss is the second Islanders goalie to win Game 7 with a shutout. Glenn Resch defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 1-0 in the 1975 NHL Quarterfinals. ... Trotz became the 15th coach to win 70 NHL postseason games (70-67). ... The Islanders lost the 1993 Wales Conference Finals to the Montreal Canadiens in five games.