Game 6 Preview: Islanders vs. Flyers

NEW YORK ISLANDERS PHILADELPHIA FLYERS
GM 6 | SEPT. 3 | 7 PM | SCOTIABANK ARENA
ISLES LEAD BEST-OF-SEVEN SERIES 3-2
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The New York Islanders have another chance to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals on Thursday night, when they take on the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 6 at Scotiabank Arena at 7 p.m. If the Isles win, it'll mark their first trip to the Conference Finals in 27 years.

The Flyers staved off elimination on Tuesday night with their 4-3 overtime win over the Isles in their best-of-seven Second-Round Series. While the Islanders failed to clinch the series in five games, as Scott Laughton delivered the OT winner 12:20 in to the extra frame, they came back from a 3-1 third-period deficit as they evened the score with two goals in the last of 4:14 of regulation from Brock Nelson and Derick Brassard. Their late rally was accomplished without their dynamic center, Mathew Barzal, who left the game with 4:47 remaining after taking Claude Grioux's stick to the face.
Head Coach Barry Trotz applauded his team's immediate response to Barzal's departure and resiliency to send the game into overtime, but noted the need to take care of business earlier to avoid that disadvantaged position all together.
"We've got to raise our game to the next level here," Trotz said. "We've got to get better starts. We've been chasing the last couple of games. [In Game 5], we almost pulled it off. We had the series on our stick a few times when it came down to it and we didn't get it done in overtime."

UPDATE ON BARZAL

Barzal's status for Game 6 is still TBD, but Trotz provided hopeful news for his potential return.
"Moderate [concern]," Trotz said of Barzal's status for Game 6. "Everything is trending in the right area. Hopefully, by tomorrow I can give you a more specific answer on that, but everything is trending in the right direction right now."
The center was credited with the Isles opening goal - scored on the power play - after the game. The goal was originally awarded to Josh Bailey, who instead, earned the primary assist.
With the goal, the 23-year-old now has four goals and 11 points in this postseason run, with a plus-seven rating.
If Barzal is unable to go in Game 6, it would mark a big loss for the Isles, who would lose their top playmaker and an elite skater. If that's the case, the Isles are fully confident in their options of forwards to step into the lineup and are prepared to embrace their 'next man up mentality.'
"The guys that are not in the lineup, they are ready to jump in if we have to go there," Trotz said. "I'm not worried about that aspect. Everyone that's had to jump in the lineup has done really well."
UPDATE: Following morning skate ahead of Game 6, Trotz confirmed that Barzal will be a game-time decision.
"He'll be a game-time decision," Trotz said.
In the case that Barzal is unfit to play, Trotz has considered all options and had conversations with players who could potentially dress in Barzal's absence, if needed.
"You don't want to make a last-minute decision," Trotz said. "You want to get people prepared. Plan B and Plan A are in place...I've talked to a couple of players. I've said there's a possibliity that they may be in. We've had to extend our roster a little bit, in terms of preparation, because we have a Plan and a Plan B."

FIGHT FOR INCHES

For the Isles, this is their third series of the postseason after advancing past the Florida Panthers in the best-of-five Stanley Cup Qualifiers in four games and claiming their best-of-seven First-Round series over the Washington Capitals in five games. In both series, the Isles' were unable to close out their opponent in their first attempt, but proved successful in the subsequent opportunity.
ISLES-FLYERS GAME 6
ISLES-FLYERS ARTICLES
Isles Day to Day: Barzal 'Trending in the Right Direction' for Game 6
Game 5 Notebook
Islanders Playoff Hub
ISLES-FLYERS VIDEO
Game 5 Highlights
Isles Availability 9/2: Trotz
Isles Player Availability 9/2
ISLES PLAYOFF PROMOS
Play Fan Faceoff
Playoff Auction
Playoff Getup Challenge
Playoff Beard Challenge
Trotz isn't concerned about his team's physical capability, but rather has emphasized on the need to match the desperation and mentality necessary to end the opponent's season.
"It's understanding the intensity level and the commitment level that is needed to close out a team," Trotz said. "We've got to get to that level. To me, you have to fight harder for that space no matter where it is. You have to fight for that space in the interior, you have to fight for that space with the puck. This is where you find out everything about each individual player. Are they willing to go that extra mile? We've got to go that extra mile just as every player at this time of the year in this format is doing."

THIRD PERIOD HEROES

Despite the score leading or trailing, the Islanders have an even-keel mentality when it comes to closing games out. In the postseason, the Isles hold a plus-15 goal differential in the third period (21 goals for, six against).
In high-stakes games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, teams feed off of waves of momentum. But in an empty arena, the players have to create that spark internally more so than with the assistance of a raucous crowd.
The Isles haven't pinpointed a specific turning point or on-ice action that serves as a catalyst for their third period success, but rather the rapport and camaraderie they have in one another.
"For us, it's just our belief in each other," Devon Toews said. "We're such a close-knit team. The attitude on the bench is so positive. Everyone is ready to go. It's a next-shift mentality when we're going through. Especially - in that third period - we were just going. That belief in each other drives us."

SUPPORT FROM AFAR

Toronto's Scotiabank Arena is approximately 519 miles and an international border away from Nassau Coliseum. Even from Canada, the Isles can feel the support on Long Island as fans cheer for them to reach the Conference Final for the first time in nearly three decades.
"We all realize how big this opportunity is that we have," Casey Cizikas said. "It's just a matter of going out there and taking advantage of it. We want to play well for everybody watching back on the Island. We want to prove to ourselves that we can do this. We have the team that can. We have the leadership that pushes us forward. We have guys that have been there before and they know what it takes. We have the right group right now."

FLYERS NOTES:

• As stated by Flyers Head Coach Alain Vigneault, his team put their 'big boy pants on' for Game 5 to keep their season alive. The Flyers top players stepped up to the occasion. Their captain, Giroux, scored his first goal of the postseason and assisted on the OT winner, while their regular season leading scorer Travis Konecny posted two assists. James Van Riemsdyk and Matt Niskanen also scored while Sean Couturier and Kevin Hayes each added an assist. 22-year-old netminder Carter Hart made timely and clutch saves and finished the outing with 29 stops.
• Couturier did not return for the third period or play in overtime after colliding with Barzal with 2:34 remaining in the second period. The Flyers' key defensive center is still being evaluated and Vigneault doesn't have any additional updates since the injury per The Athletic's Charlie O'Connor.
• The Flyers won their first game of the postseason in which they did not score the first goal. They are 2-0 this postseason in overtime, both wins coming against the Islanders.