Flyers surge past Islanders with five unanswered goals

UNIONDALE, N.Y. -- The Philadelphia Flyers moved within five points of the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference with a 5-2 win against the New York Islanders at Nassau Coliseum on Saturday.

James van Riemsdyk had a goal and an assist, and Brian Elliott made 25 saves for Philadelphia (33-27-8), which scored five unanswered goals and is 17-4-2 in its past 23 games. The Flyers trail the Columbus Blue Jackets for the second wild card; Columbus is tied in points with the Montreal Canadiens.
Philadelphia won 4-1 here Sunday.
"We were really good defensively; we didn't give up much," said Flyers forward Jakub Voracek, who had two assists.
WATCH: [All Flyers vs. Islanders highlights]
Scott Mayfield and Nick Leddy scored for New York (39-22-7), which remained two points behind the Washington Capitals for first place in the Metropolitan Division. Thomas Greiss allowed five goals on 15 shots and was pulled after the second period. Christopher Gibson made 10 saves.
"Everything they got, we sort of gave," Islanders coach Barry Trotz said.
Mayfield gave the Islanders a 1-0 lead at 6:30 of the first period when his shot from the point went in off Flyers forward Corban Knight's stick.
Ryan Hartman tied it 1-1 when he tipped in his own rebound after a cross-ice pass from Ivan Provorov at 15:20 of the first.

Philadelphia took a 2-1 lead with three seconds left in the first when van Riemsdyk was left alone in front of the net for his 20th goal of the season.
"A goal like that, it shouldn't happen, but it happens," Islanders forward Leo Komarov said. "You just have to step up … [but] then they score a couple of more, and that's that."
Sean Couturier's one-timer from the top of the left circle made it 3-1 at 1:34 of the second period after a pass from Voracek.
Nolan Patrick extended the Flyers lead to 4-1 at 5:35 after Islanders forward Jordan Eberle failed to clear the puck in front of the net. It prompted Trotz to call a timeout.

"It's adversity," Trotz said. "But we have another level of effort, commitment, all those intangible things."
Less than a minute later, the Islanders had a 5-on-3 power play that lasted 1:34 but couldn't capitalize.
"Obviously a lot of guys sacrificing, and a bunch of big blocks," Flyers defenseman Travis Sanheim said. "The guys did a really good job, and we just made some really big saves. Credit to our [penalty killers]; it could have been a turning point in the game."
Travis Konecny made it 5-1 when he finished an odd-man rush from the left circle at 17:26.

Leddy backhanded a rebound in front past Elliott with 3:32 remaining for the 5-2 final.
Islanders defenseman Johnny Boychuk left the game with an apparent upper-body injury at 5:41 of the third period after being hit by Voracek, who received a five-minute interference penalty. Trotz said Boychuk is day to day.
"I mean, 5-1 hockey game, [Voracek] lunges back … you've got a guy who plays his whole career hard and clean," New York captain Anders Lee said of the hit on Boychuk. "Just completely unnecessary."
"I tried to protect myself," Voracek said. "To be honest, maybe the puck was a little further (away) than I thought. I thought the puck was closer to me."

They said it

"We're in the home stretch here, and points are key. We've just got to keep pushing, take it one game at a time and not (be) looking too far ahead. If we continue to keep playing like we are right now, I think it's going to be a good stretch." -- Flyers defenseman Travis Sanheim
"The biggest thing you can do when it's not really going your way is you pull together, not pull apart. That's playing for the guy next to you, doing the little things. … The answer is nowhere but our room. That's where the answer is. There's no help from the outside." -- Islanders coach Barry Trotz

Need to know

The Islanders are 0-for-18 on the power play in their past eight games. … Flyers coach Scott Gordon said goalie Carter Hart is healthy and simply needs to get in more practice time before returning. Hart has not played since Feb. 21 because of an ankle injury. … Provorov and Sanheim were each plus-4. … Mayfield's goal was his first in 48 games. He last scored Nov. 18 against the Dallas Stars.

What's next

Flyers: Host the Ottawa Senators on Monday (7 p.m. ET; NBCSP, TSN5, RDS, NHL.TV)
Islanders: Host the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday (Nassau Coliseum; 7 p.m. ET; MSG+, FS-O, NHL.TV)