New York Islanders Momentum Put on Hold After Game Two Loss

From the desk of: NO SLEEP TILL BELMONT

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE

2019   PLAYOFFS   2020

Series Tied; 1-1

I - NYI 4; PHI 0

II - PHI 4; NYI 3*

*overtime

Nothing More to See; Don't Worry; All is Well; Go Back to Your Homes and Thank You For Your Concern

Once you play beyond regulation, well, the first little slip up and it's game over.  Even the sun shines on a dog's posterior once a day.  To Philadelphia's credit the Flyers do create a bunch of traffic in front of Semyon Varlamov.  And sure enough, that jam up leads to the game winning goal.  I'm just not convinced Philadelphia actually wins on a long range deflection, or if the slow starting Islanders let one slip away.  In either scenario the Flyers last night should've slept with troubled minds after blowing a three goal lead.

The undeterred Islanders stay true to themselves and just grind their way through the second and third periods like a glacier carving its way through the Toronto bubble.  It takes overtime, but the Isles allow thirty-plus shots on goal for the first time since the NHL's restart.  So, technically they've yet to yield thirty SOG in regulation.  The Isles still out-shoot Philly by a 34-31 margin and continue doing what's been making them so successful: they're 2 for 2 on the PK and go 1 for 3 on the power play.  They also administer more hits and win more face-offs.  More across the board contributions come from Anders Lee, Anthony Beaullivier and the game tying goal with just over two minutes left in regulation from Jean-Gabriel Pageau.  That's been Islanders hockey.  After a disastrous first period they regroup and impose their brand of play until Philippe Myers flips the scrip at the 2:41 mark of overtime.

Sean Couturier leads the Flyers with four shots on goal, while four other skaters manage three each.  The Islanders on the other hand are led by Anders Lee's eight shots on goal and Anthony Beauvillier's six shots on net.  Three other Islanders put three shots on net as well.  Therefore have faith in Coach Trotz' four line blitz.  Game two was nothing more than the Isles showing up late for work - it happens.

If any team is under stress through two games, it's Philadelphia.  The Flyers are asking for extended minutes from their blue liners.  Ivan Provorov and Travis Sanheim clock over twenty minutes in game two, and in game one they play three defensemen in excess of twenty minutes.  The more minutes they stay on the ice the easier it gets to make them turn their heads and get their bodies skating in the wrong direction.  In game two not one Isles defenseman surpasses twenty minutes even as they continue forward minus Johnny Boychuck.

This can either be a turning point in the series for Philly (if you let your imagination run wild), or just a bump in the road for the Islanders.  I suspect the latter, but of course that remains to be seen.