GAME NOTES
QUICK STATS
Season Series: 3-1-1
All-Time Record: 278gp (142-96-26-14)
Leading Scorer:
PHI - 31 pts: James van Riemsdyk (13g-18a)
NYI - 33 pts: Mathew Barzal (13g-20a)
1. APRIL AHEAD
The Flyers head into tonight's game coming off a two-day break for the first time since Feb. 25 & 26... The Flyers are 2-2-2 this season when playing with at least two days in-between games and, under Alain Vigneault, the Flyers have a 15-11-6 mark with two or more days in between games... Despite the break, the Flyers will now kick off six games in the next nine days and within the month, they play 15 games in a 27-day span.
2. ISLAND IN THE SUN
The Islanders snapped a two-game losing skid with their 8-4 win over Washington on Thursday and have won four of their last six games to move within two points of the East Division lead... The win also improved the Islanders record on home ice at a league-best 14-1-2 with their lone regulation loss coming at the hands of the Flyers on Mar. 18... The Islanders rank second in the NHL in goals scored in both the first period (38) and third period (45), while also leading all NHL teams in the fewest goals allowed in the third period (23)... Their +22 third-period goal differential leads the NHL.
3. CLOSE AS THEY COME
It's the sixth of eight meetings against the Islanders with the Flyers winning three and earning points in four of the previous five, going 3-1-1... After winning the first three of the year, the Flyers have dropped the most recent two... Four of the five meetings this season have been decided by one goal with three of those four decided in overtime... Of the 29 goals scored in the series by both teams, only three have come on special teams (3 power play)
4. COMPLETELY RANDOM
The Flyers have received goals from a defenseman in three straight games and the defense has found the scoresheet in eight of their last nine goals scored... Sean Couturier has a five-game point streak with eight points (4g-4a) in that stretch... The Flyers and Islanders have identical records (9-4-4) in games decided by one goal... Nick Leddy will play his 500th game as an Islander tonight... Carter Hart will get the start in net tonight which will be his first start since Mar. 25 after not appearing in three straight games - It's just the second time he has missed three straight games unrelated to injury since being recalled on Dec. 17, 2018 (Oct. 24, 26 & 27, 2019).
5. PLAYERS TO WATCH
FLYERS (LW: #28 - Claude Giroux)
The captain has recorded points in four of the five meetings this season and leads the team with five points (1g-4a) in the series... He has more points against the Islanders than any other team in his career with 61 points (19g-42a) in 57 games which also includes 21 multi-point games.
ISLANDERS (C: #13 - Mathew Barzal)
Currently on a three-game scoring streak with eight points (4g-4a) which includes a hat trick and five-point outing in his last game, an 8-4 win vs. Washington... Barzal averages over a point per-game against the Flyers with 21 points (7g-14a) in 16 games but has just one point in his last three meetings against Flyers.
