It was a wild ending at the Wells Fargo Center tonight. In a game that was meaningless for the Flyers, but of the utmost importance for the New York Islanders, the orange and black surrendered a 4-1 lead only to win it on a Brayden Schenn goal on a zone entry with just 2 seconds left.
The Islanders could have clinched a playoff spot tonight with a win, but being that they're more than likely in the playoffs of course the Flyers would beat them. Claude Giroux scored the first 2 goals, both assisted by Jakub Voracek and Mark Streit, and had a great look at the empty net late in the game, but couldn't seal the hat trick as the feed pass got away from him.
Pierre-Edouard Bellemare and Carlo Colaiacovo notched the other 2 goals for the Flyers to push the lead to 4-1. John Tavares scored the Islanders second period goal, his 36th of the season. He also assisted 2 of the Islanders late goals off the face off to stay ahead of Voracek in the point race.
After Anders Lee scored with 28 seconds left it looked like the game would go to overtime. Brayden Schenn would receive the puck from Sean Couturier at the top of the zone soon after though, and lazily toss a shot on goal. It ended up being enough to beat goalie Jaroslav Halak, who looked seriously disheartened.
Meanwhile tonight, the Penguins lost to the Ottawa Senators, but still picked up 1 point in overtime. There's a strong possibility the Penguins playoff fate will rest in the Flyers hands when they take on Ottawa on Saturday in the season finale.
In the points race Jakub Voracek made up some ground, but quickly surrendered it back to John Tavares, who now is tied for the lead league with Sidney Crosby at 83 points. Voracek is in third with 81. All three have 2 games left this season.
Mark Streit's 2 assists helped him hit the 50 point mark. The last Flyers defenseman to accomplish that was Chris Pronger in 2009-10.
The Flyers final home game of the season takes place Thursday night against the Carolina Hurricanes at 7 pm.
-Ben Lebo
Follow us on Twitter: @BroadStBeat
Pierre-Edouard Bellemare and Carlo Colaiacovo notched the other 2 goals for the Flyers to push the lead to 4-1. John Tavares scored the Islanders second period goal, his 36th of the season. He also assisted 2 of the Islanders late goals off the face off to stay ahead of Voracek in the point race.
After Anders Lee scored with 28 seconds left it looked like the game would go to overtime. Brayden Schenn would receive the puck from Sean Couturier at the top of the zone soon after though, and lazily toss a shot on goal. It ended up being enough to beat goalie Jaroslav Halak, who looked seriously disheartened.
Meanwhile tonight, the Penguins lost to the Ottawa Senators, but still picked up 1 point in overtime. There's a strong possibility the Penguins playoff fate will rest in the Flyers hands when they take on Ottawa on Saturday in the season finale.
In the points race Jakub Voracek made up some ground, but quickly surrendered it back to John Tavares, who now is tied for the lead league with Sidney Crosby at 83 points. Voracek is in third with 81. All three have 2 games left this season.
Mark Streit's 2 assists helped him hit the 50 point mark. The last Flyers defenseman to accomplish that was Chris Pronger in 2009-10.
The Flyers final home game of the season takes place Thursday night against the Carolina Hurricanes at 7 pm.
-Ben Lebo
Follow us on Twitter: @BroadStBeat