It'll be a crucial pair of games for the Metropolitan Division opponents, who are both in desperate need of points to try and climb the standings from their current positions. The Islanders (28 points) enter the game in eighth place while the Flyers (33 points) are in sixth, though the Isles have seven games in hand.
The Islanders were shut out 2-0 by the Washington Capitals on Saturday afternoon. Semyon Varlamov made 34 saves on 35 shots in the loss. It was a "disappointing" result and effort from the Islanders as noted by Islanders Associate Coach Lane Lambert following the game, which snapped the Islanders' prior three-game winning streak.
"I was disappointed with the result and a little bit disappointed with our execution," Lane Lambert said. "I didn't think we made a lot of plays, and weren't handling the puck the way we could, should, or normally would."
In eight meetings last season against the Flyers, only two of the results were decided in regulation. The Flyers won the first three games of the regular-season series, including twice in overtime, while the Islanders won the final five games, including twice in overtime and twice in a shootout.
Philadelphia enters this matchup desperate for a win as well after the team lost its seventh-straight game following a 3-2 result to the New York Rangers on Saturday night. Both teams have dug themselves into a hole in the standings, so it only emphasizes the magnitude of these two upcoming games between the clubs.
"We're in a hole. We've got to dig ourselves out," Scott Mayfield said. "It's tough. We've got to get those points, we've got to start racking up wins, racking up points. We didn't today."