Recap-1920

The opponent changed, but the New York Islanders approach did not. Neither did the result.
The Islanders took a 1-0 series lead over the Philadelphia Flyers series on Monday night, grinding their way to an 4-0 win in Game 1 at Scotiabank Arena.
Andy Greene, JG Pageau, Anders Lee and Devon Toews scored for the Islanders, while Semyon Varlamov made 29 saves for a second-straight shutout. Varlamov's current shutout streak stands at 136:20, as the Isles skated to a second-straight 4-0 win.
"We know how important the first game of each series is," said Varlamov, who improved to 5-0 in Game 1s in his career. "It's important to win the first one and then have a good start and we did that again today. It's going to be a long series... We'll have to move on from this game and get ready for the next one."


ISLES STICK TO THEIR IDENTITY VS FLYERS:

Matching up against another deep, four-line, defensively-stingy opponent, the Isles didn't stray from the style of play that handidly won a pair of series over the Panthers and Capitals. They forechecked hard in the offensive zone to own the first and third periods, kept the Flyers to the perimeter in the defensive zone during a second-period siege and counterpunched in between.
Aware of Philadelphia's 7-0 record when scoring first in the playoffs, the Isles sought to get on the board first and came out with a firey start, forcing the Flyers into mistakes and turnovers. It was rewarded with an early 1-0 lead, as Greene's slapper through traffic put the Isles up 1-0 at 6:06, but the Isles didn't let up, outshooting Philadelphia 15-4 in the opening frame.
ISLES-FLYERS GAME 1
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Lee Buries Barzal's Feed
Pageau Finishes Forecheck
Greene's Opening Goal
Postgame: Trotz
Postgame: Lee & Pageau
Postgame: Varlamov & Greene
KINGER'S RADIO CALLS
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ISLES PLAYOFF PROMOS
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"I wasn't surprised, I knew we'd be ready," Head Coach Barry Trotz said of his team's start after three days off.
But in a matchup of similar styles, the Flyers gave the Isles a taste of their own medicine in the second. Philadelphia opened the period with an 8-0 shot advantage, holding the Isles without a shot on goal until a Josh Bailey drive off the rush 8:18 in. Overall, the Flyers outshot the Isles 15-7 in the middle frame, but the Isles were able to withstand the pressure, thanks in large part to another sound performance from Varlamov.
"The second period we kind of got away from our game a little bit, and they took it to us," Greene said. "We saw how the first and third periods went and that's more of what we need out of our game."
Withstanding the barrage paid dividends early in the third, as Pageau extended the Isles lead by finishing off aggressive forechecking from Ross Johnston - who had a game-high 10 hits - and Leo Komarov. Johnston pinned Travis Sanheim against the end boards and while he and Komarov drew the attention of three Flyers, Pageau posted up in front of the net undetected, roofing his fifth of the playoffs at 2:54.
The 2-0 lead forced the Flyers to open up, and the Isles top line of Anders Lee, Mathew Barzal and Jordan Eberle took advantage. Eberle chipped a puck ahead for Barzal in the Flyers end, who dished a slick cross-ice feed to Lee for 3-0 marker at 8:50. The goal was Lee's fourth of the postseason.
The three-goal hole prompted the Flyers to pull Carter Hart (25 saves) for an extra attacker with eight minutes to play and Toews hit a long-range empty-netter to ice the game.
"We just tried to go into this game and establish our game," Trotz said of his team's Game 1 philosophy. "Get to our game as quick as possible and see what their game is about."

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      NYI@PHI, Gm1: Greene buries slap shot through traffic

      EVER-GREENE:

      Usually, a sign that a defensive defenseman like Andy Greene is playing a good game is that you don't notice him much on the ice.
      That was not the case on Monday, as the veteran defenseman was all over the ice in Game 1 vs the Flyers, hitting the score sheet and the highlight reel in a variety of ways.
      Greene scored the game-winning goal for the Islanders, sneaking a seeing-eye slap shot through traffic and ultimately Hart at 6:06 of the first period. The goal was Greene's first of the playoffs and first postseason goal since April 16, 2010 when he was with the Devils - and coincidently playing the Flyers.
      That wasn't Greene's only impact play of the period. The 37-year-old got the job done in his own zone, stretching out his back skate to block a quality chance from Travis Konecny - the Flyers' leading scorer during the regular season - on a cross-ice feed with 1:31 to play in the first period.
      "One of those plays was luckier than the other," Greene joked after the game. "The goal I just saw a shot lane and put it through, but the other one, I can't let that pass get through. At that point once it did, it was desperation mode and I got lucky,"
      Varlamov, who sat next to Greene in the postgame Zoom, appreciated the effort, thanking his defenseman.
      Overall, Greene finished the night with 18:37 TOI, the game-winning goal and four blocked shots. He was named the third star of the game.


      VARLAMOV RECORDS SECOND-STRAIGHT SHUTOUT:

      Semyon Varlamov tried to play it cool after Game 1, suggesting that he hadn't done anything special by recording back-to-back playoff shutouts.
      A little more prodding and eventually the even-keeled Russian relented... a little.
      "We play well defensively the guys played unbelievable again today in front of me," Varlamov said. "It feels good to get back-to-back shutouts, but at this point, it's not about shutouts, it's playoff hockey, so for me the most important thing is to get the win and get ready for the next game. I'm not really focusing on it right now, of course I am excited about it, I'm not going to lie, but it is what it is."
      Varlamov's 136:20 shutout streak is second all-time in Isles playoff history. First isn't far off, as Billy Smith's franchise record is 136:59.
      With the win, Varlamov improved to 8-2 with a 1.50 GAA, a .941 SV% and two shutouts.


      CLUTTERBUCK IN, DAL COLLE OUT:

      Cal Clutterbuck returned to the Islanders lineup after missing Game 5 vs Washington with an undisclosed injury. Clutterbuck's return bumped Leo Komarov back onto the Islanders third line alongside JG Pageau and Ross Johnston. Michael Dal Colle came out of the Isles lineup, while Derick Brassard was a healthy scratch for a second straight game.


      NEXT GAME:

      The Isles and Flyers get together for Game 2 on Wednesday afternoon. Puck drop is at 3 p.m.