Game 4 Notebook: Isles Push Flyers to Brink after 3-2 Win

The New York Islanders are one win away from advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 1993.
The Islanders took a 3-1 lead in their Second Round best-of-seven series over the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday night with a 3-2 victory in the second leg of a back-to-back set.

Brock Nelson scored twice for the Isles while Jean-Gabriel Pageau also found the back of the net. Both coaches opted to utilize their backup netminders as Thomas Greiss received his first starting nod of the postseason for the Isles and made 36 saves, while Brian Elliott manned the pipes for the Flyers and made 30 saves.
ISLES-FLYERS GAME 4
ISLES-FLYERS ARTICLES
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Greiss Delivers in Game 4
The Skinny: Gm 4 Islanders 3, Flyers 2
ISLES-FLYERS VIDEO
Full Highlights
Nelson Snipes Top Corner
Pageau's Game-Winner
Nelson's Second Goal
KINGER'S RADIO CALLS
Listen to Nelson's Goal
Listen to Pageau's Goal
Listen to Nelson's Second Goal
ISLES PLAYOFF PROMOS
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Playoff Auction
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Playoff Beard Challenge
While the Islanders gutted out a win effort to go up three games to one in the series, Head Coach Barry Trotz felt it was his team's worst performance of the postseason. He was ultimately pleased with the Isles ability to pull out the vital win, but noted their flaws.
"The great thing is getting the two points - and you can get them different ways - but you know you can play better," Trotz said. "That's the comforting thing that you know that your game is on. We've had some games where our game is really on...You've got to find ways to win. We've got a comfort level, of the term becoming comfortable when it's uncomfortable. Tonight was an uncomfortable game and we were able to find a way to win."
Knowing the importance of this game and not wanting to fall behind 3-1 in the series, the Flyers' desperation was evident from the drop of the puck. A few early uncharacteristic turnovers on the Isles' behalf subsequently presented Greiss with a few flurries of net-front scrambles.
After allowing the game's first five shots, the Isles gained momentum after a four-on-four and settled into their own offensive game, taking 18 of the final 20 shots in the first period.
Elliott was a brick wall as both of the Islanders power play units generated threatening looks with their displayed swift puck movement and rifled off nine shots on goal. The Islanders entered the first intermission with a 18-7 edge in shots.

The second period transpired like the swing of a pendulum. What began with the Islanders carrying momentum over from their assertive latter half of the first period and taking a one goal lead at 6:52 of the second, ended with the Flyers tying the score 1-1 and outshooting them 17-3 in the middle frame.
Philadelphia was inches away from scoring their first goal 6:34 seconds into the middle frame as they created a Grade A opportunity off of their abrasive forecheck.
The Flyers snapped the puck from down low to the point and quickly shifted the play to the other side of the zone as Travis Sanheim blasted off a point shot. The blast was redirected by Tyler Pitlick and Greiss received a break as the puck struck iron before winding up between his pads.
The play was enough to wake the Isles up. The Isles counterattacked just 18 seconds later with a takeaway of their own from Josh Bailey, who discretely thread the puck across the slot to Nelson. From the high slot, Nelson sniped his sizzling wrist-shot bar down past Elliott for the icebreaker at 6:52.

While the Isles took a 1-0 lead, the Flyers weren't deflated and amplified the pressure. Philadelphia executed quick breakouts and sturdy puck support to dismantle the Isles offense and generate their own forceful attack. The push finally broke as the Flyers duplicated the sequence they'd nearly scored on early in the period.
After retrieving the puck from a forecheck along the boards, the Flyers cycled the puck out from point-to-point before Sean Couturier deflected Justin Braun's shot from distance past Greiss.
Both teams returned for the third period flying and full of intensity and exchanged chances end-to-end as Greiss and Elliott had their work made out.
Just over seven minutes into the period, Pageau snuck past the Flyers defense and sprung himself for a breakaway played by Scott Mayfield. Pageau's initial shot fumbled through Elliots' pads, but the center got a second tap to ensure the puck would cross the blueline.
With a 2-1 lead, the Isles quick transition game converted on what would be the clutch game-winner. Along the boards, Anthony Beauvillier cleverly jumped his linemates for a two-on-one rush as he redirected the puck off his skate and into the neutral zone. Nelson and Bailey exchanged a give-and-go before Nelson tapped in the Isles' third goal and his second of the game at 11:12.
Despite being down two goals, the Flyers didn't relent. An attempted clear by the Islanders was picked off at their blueline and countered by Philadelphia. With 1:04 on the clock Philadelphia, Ivan Provorov put his team within one goal as he beat Greiss with a shot from the point. The Flyers used their timeout and extra skater to try to send the game into overtime, but the Isles hung in until the final buzzer.
"We had to battle like crazy at the end," Trotz said. "They had a lot more desperation in their game than we did...The task at hand is that we have to go win one more game and that game is the toughest. We're going to have to go out and earn it. No one is going to walk in our room and give us a game. Today, we didn't play well enough to earn it, but we were able to get a win. That says a lot about the group, when the game was on the line our group found a way to get it done."

PRIME-TIME PAGEAU

The Isles newest acquisition has thrived since his arrival on the Island. With his game-winner in Game 4, Pageau tied Beauvillier for the Isles lead in goals with seven.
A true Swiss Army Knife, Pageau was clutch for the Isles on both special teams. The center logged 16:00 TOI, including 53 seconds on the Isles sole power play of the game and 37 seconds on the kill.
"The payoff for getting him is obviously paying off right away," Nelson said. "He's a big part of our team up the middle, he's a big faceoff guy and now, you're scoring big goals. That's a guy you can lean on in any situation really. He plays all three zones. He does it all. He's a guy you appreciate and love to have on your team.

GREISS GETS THE NOD

Greiss received his first starting nod of the postseason and was a huge influence in the Isles' victory with his 36 saves.
The netminder was exposed to a flurry of chances early in the first period, but didn't miss a beat as he showcased his acrobatics in the crease. Throughout the game, Greiss was solid as the Flyers put forth their most desperate and threatening game of the series and one where their top players made their presence known.
"I just thought the back-to-back was going to be too much and I have confidence in both goalies," Trotz said of his decision to start Greiss for Game 4. "I knew at some point that both goaltenders would be a part of the solution [in the postseason]. Tonight, there's no question that Greisser was part of the solution."

LUCKY 13 FOR BAILEY

With his assist on Nelson's second-period icebreaker, Bailey recorded his team-best 11th helper and marked the first time since 1993 that an Islander reached 11 assists in the postseason.
The Isles winger has been sensational in the postseason with his team-high 13 points and 11 assists. He's been clutch in threading key goals for the Isles whether on the power play or alongside Nelson and Beauvillier.

NEXT GAME:

The Islanders look to close out the series as they return to action with the Flyers in Game 5 on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. ET at Scotiabank arena.
While teams with a 3-1 lead are 284-29 in winning a best-of-seven Stanley Cup Playoff series, including a 6-0 in the first round this season, the Isles know the last game of a series is the hardest to close out. Plus, Philadelphia will be the home team and have the advantage of last change for Game 5.