Islanders score four in first, cruise to win against Flyers

UNIONDALE, N.Y. -- Casey Cizikas scored twice during a four-goal first period for the New York Islanders in a 6-1 win against the Philadelphia Flyers at Nassau Coliseum on Saturday.

Ilya Sorokin made 23 saves and won his seventh straight start for the Islanders (20-8-4), who lost their previous two games following a nine-game winning streak.
It was the second of a three-game series; the Flyers won 4-3 on Thursday. The teams will play at Philadelphia on Monday.
"I think it just speaks to the group of guys that we have," Cizikas said of New York's response. "The way that we came out here tonight and the way we battled for each other, that was the biggest thing, that was the biggest key. We went out there, we established what we wanted to do right off the hop, and we continued that for 60 minutes."
Joel Farabee scored for the Flyers (15-11-3), who played without center Sean Couturier because of a lower-body injury and finished 2-2-0 on a four-game road trip. Carter Hart made 22 saves.

Philadelphia allowed 15 goals in the two losses (9-0 at New York Rangers on Wednesday).
"That's definitely not the way we want to play, and it has to stop," Flyers forward Travis Konecny said. "It has to be fixed now because it just can't continue. It's hard to play that way. I think everyone knows that they have to do better, and we just need to keep working at it."
Jean-Gabriel Pageau gave the Islanders a 1-0 lead with a power-play goal at 6:11. Oliver Wahlstrom's shot from the left face-off circle was blocked by Flyers forward Oskar Lindblom but went directly to Pageau for his 10th goal of the season.
Jordan Eberle ended an eight-game goal drought when he scored 1:50 later on a rebound in front to make it 2-0 at 8:01.
Cizikas made it 3-0 when he stripped defenseman Nate Prosser at the Flyers blue line and scored on a wrist shot from the left circle at 10:03. Philadelphia coach Alain Vigneault called a timeout after the goal.
The Flyers had 20 giveaways in the game.
"It's my job, obviously, to find solutions," Vigneault said. "I really thought prior to the game that we were focused. We talked about making sure that we follow up that performance that we had [Thursday] with another solid one, making the right plays. But right off the bat, initially we were turning pucks over in the neutral zone. You give opportunities like we did to any team, they'll find a way to put them in the net, and that's what they did."

Cizikas scored again on a one-timer off a pass from Thomas Hickey to give the Islanders a 4-0 lead at 15:25.
Farabee made it 4-1 on an odd-man rush at 17:52 of the first with a wrist shot from the right circle.
Sorokin made 11 saves in the second period to preserve New York's three-goal lead, then gloved Claude Giroux's point-blank chance at 7:05 of the third. The rookie goalie has allowed 10 goals during his seven-game winning streak.
"The team, of course, helps a lot," Sorokin said. "Every time I'm on the ice, I feel the team is always on the attack, and that always helps my game."
Anthony Beauvillier scored his first goal in nine games to make it 5-1 at 9:45 of the third period, and Josh Bailey scored at 15:46 for the 6-1 final.
Hickey had two assists in his first NHL game since May 3, 2019, which was Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Second Round against the Carolina Hurricanes.
"As soon as I got to the rink, I just flipped a switch," Hickey said. "I think that's a testament to the work I put in. I felt ready right away. … It's the best feeling I've had in a long time."
NOTES: Vigneault said he is unsure if Couturier will be able to play Monday. Couturier participated in warmups, but he and the training staff determined he should not play. … Flyers forward Michael Raffl was minus-1 with two hits in 14:18 after entering the lineup with Couturier a late scratch. … Wahlstrom had two assists and has a three-game point streak (two goals, two assists). … Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson remained on the NHL COVID-19 protocol list and missed a fourth straight game.