POSTGAME 5: Getting one the hard way

HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED
The Philadelphia Flyers saw a three-goal lead slip away before rescuing a 4-3 win in overtime against the New York Islanders in Game 2 of their Second Round series on Wednesday afternoon. Phil Myers ended the game with a point shot goal at 2:40 of OT.
A pair of Kevin Hayes goals off the rush staked the Flyers to an early 2-0 lead. Sean Couturier then ended his postseason-long scoring drought with another goal off the rush, prompting a goalie change for the Islanders. Anders Lee scored a power play tip-in goal midway through the second period, cutting New York's deficit to 3-1.
Anthony Beavillier made it 3-2 midway through the third period. Then an attempted exit pass from Travis Sanheim became a turnover and J-G Pageau tied the game before Myers knotted the series at 2:40 of overtime.
Carter Hart stopped 31 of 33 shots to earn the win. Semyon Varlamov lasted just 15:09 from the opening faceoff, getting beaten three times on 10 shots. Thomas Greiss relieved him and stopped 20 of 21 shots,

MELTZER'S TAKE
* Two saves on the same shift by Hart on Anthony Beauvillier loomed big early for the Flyers. Both of Hayes' first period goals were scored high to the short-side from the left circle; one from above the dot, the other from the bottom of the circle. Everything was going the Islanders' way for the first few shifts of the game. The Flyers were hemmed in and Hart was tested right off the bat. Then Claude Giroux won a defensive zone faceoff, Travis Konecny made a good pass to Hayes and the Flyers' second-line center beat Varlamov short-side high from the top of the left circle at 1:57. The goal was a huge lift for the Flyers, and they got better and better as the opening period progressed to build a three-goal lead.
* Coming off a performance in Game 1 that was far below his usual standards, Couturier came out like gangbusters in Game 2. First, off an Islanders turnover, he attacked the net, and created the game's first power play. Later, he finally scored his long-awaited first goal of the playoffs, beating Nick Leddy, going wide on Varlamov and scoring from the left side.
* As with the second Hayes goal, the Flyers found success by using the high flip to exit the D zone at the start of the middle period. Ross Johnston took a silly penalty on a sequence where he gave Hart a snow shower and the cross-checked Phil Myers. Philly did not capitalize on it, and it was a lift for the Islanders. Matt Niskanen later rocked Johnston with a big hit.
* Play was fairly even until the latter half of the period, which the Islanders controlled on the forecheck. Hart had no chance on an Anders Lee re-direct of a Mathew Barzal feed on the power play at 11:45 after an automatic delay of game penalty on Jakub Voracek. Immediately after the goal, Hart had to make an outstanding save on Casey Cizikas.
* Philadelphia opened the third period with a strong kill of the remaining Couturier penalty time. The Islanders took some chances on a very aggressive forecheck. Finally, at 11:11, Beauvillier scored on a give-and-go with Josh Bailey, beating Hart under the arm to the near side. Hart subsequently had to make a couple of close-range saves to prevent a tying goal. That only lasted until the 17:51 mark. An attempted Sanheim breakout pass to Sean Couturier went off his skate and was held by Pelech. Then Pageau scored from the center slot. The Flyers challenged the goal for an offside on Brock Nelson. The goal was upheld on replay, and the Flyers were penalized for delay of game.

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
* The Flyers continued their trend of winning the next game following a loss, going 10-0-0 since Jan. 8 without back-to-back losses.
* They also continued their trend of the first goal scored wins the game... The Flyers are 8-0-0 when scoring first and 0-3-0 when yielding the first goal.
* The Flyers improved their record to 4-1 in daytime start games since the playoffs began.
* The Flyers played their first overtime game in the playoffs since 2012 - Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals - they had gone 32 straight playoff games without an overtime, which is Flyers record.
* Kevin Hayes posted his first career two-goal game in the playoffs.
* Philippe Myers scored his first career playoff overtime goal.
* Sean Couturier scored his first goal of the playoffs and set up the game-winner in OT, he has six assists and seven points in 11 games.
* The Flyers are right back at it for Game 3 tomorrow night (Aug. 27) at 7 p.m. on NBCSN & 97.5 The Fanatic.