New York Islanders Upended by the Furious Flyers in Game Five

From the desk of: NO SLEEP TILL BELMONT

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE

2019   PLAYOFFS   2020

Isles lead Flyers; 3-2

I - NYI 4; PHI 0

II - PHI 4; NYI 3*

III - NYI 3; PHI 1

IV - NYI 3; PHI 2

V - PHI 4; NYI 3*

*overtime

Lost Opportunity Number One; Isles Have Two Chances Left to Clinch Series

Perhaps I spoke too soon?

A repeat of game two?  Somewhat .. the Isles in game two storm back with a trio of third period goals to send the game into overtime.  In game five they storm back with two goals in the third from Brock Nelson and Derick Brassard to send the game into overtime.

Similar, but different ...

In game two the Flyers take 31 shots on goal, while the Isles block 13 other attempts.  That theoretically is 44 attempts on net.  In game five the Flyers take 32 shots on goal, but the Isles are forced to block another 28 attempts.  Now we're theoretically speaking about 60 shot attempts in a game which only requires 2:41 minutes of overtime. 

Long Island is still outscoring the Flyers by a 16-11 margin.  They scored four times in game one and have tallied at least three goals in every game since.  Philadelphia's only breaks the three goal barrier during games two and five.  Said another way, the Flyers are having to labor into overtime in order to achieve victory.

Both teams have fifteen different skaters whom have scored during these playoffs.  Both teams also are generally staying out of the box.  Face-offs are likewise being cut down the middle (143-142) favoring the Isles.  What's needed is a difference maker.  Defense is what got the Islanders this far.  Thus, the question which begs asking is can the Islanders limit the Flyers to a just a pair of goals.  Three times in this series they have limited the Flyers to a pair of goals or less.  But in order to do that again they clearly need to tighten up.  Otherwise the real question we should be asking is if these teams are finally playing up to the their respective seedings, or in the Isles case, playing down to their final regular season standing.

We're gonna find out on Thursday, or maybe game seven.