POSTGAME 5: Big Boy Pants On

HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED
The Flyers have forced a Game 6 of their Second Round series with the New York Islanders after a 4-3 overtime victory at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on Tuesday evening.
After a scoreless first period, a controversial Josh Bailey power play goal at 1:20 of the second period gave the Islanders a 1-0 lead. Later, a Claude Giroux deflection at 15:45 and a James van Riemsdyk goal on a 3-on-1 rush at 18:18 sent the Flyers to the second intermission leading 2-1. Matt Niskanen added an early third period insurance goal but late goals by Brock Nelson scored from distance at 15:46 and Derick Brassard from the doorstep at 17:19 forced overtime. Finally, a deflection goal by Scott Laughton at 12:20 of OT ended the game.
Carter Hart earned the win with 29 saves on 32 shots. Semyon Varlamov took the loss with 28 saves on 32 shots.

MELTZER'S TAKE
* The Flyers played a strong first period overall: aggressive on the forecheck, sound in their own zone. Philly generated 11 shots on goal on 26 shot attempts, and had multiple good scoring chances. None were better that Sean Couturier's rebound opportunity off a Claude Giroux shot; he had a lot of net at which to shoot, but hit the left post. Kevin Hayes had a good jam-in opportunity stepping out from behind the net and a follow-up opportunity. Giroux had one in the near slot as well as a shot through a screen from the left circle.
* The Flyers' challenge for goaltender interference on Matt Barzal on Josh Bailey's power play goal was unsuccessful. Tyler Pitlick pushed Barzal into the net, although Barzal also made no effort whatsoever to vacate the crease (and held Ivan Provorov's stick for good measure). Jordan Eberle and Barzal got the assists. The Islanders started to take over the game until the Flyers top line had strong puck possession shifts on both ends of a TV timeout. Finally, after multiple low-to-high plays, the Flyers got a payoff on Giroux's high tip of a Phil Myers point shot.
* Accidental knee-to-knee contact between Couturier and Barzal in the second period rendered Couturier unable to return for the third period. At 4:32, after Hayes kept the puck in the offensive zone and Konecny made a perfect cross-ice pass, a wide open Niskanen was able to step into a heavy shot that beat Varlamov for a 3-1 lead.
* The Islanders generated 10 of the next 11 shots, and Nelson's long range shot may be been deflected a bit by Joel Farabee but was stoppable for Hart. With 2:41 left, Clutterbuck won a battle with Nate Thompson passed beyond Hagg to Brassard, who had a slam dunk to tie the game at 3-3. Shots were 12-6 Islanders.
* There were multiple Grade A chances for both teams in OT. Finally, after Matt Martin tripped up Hagg behind the Flyers' net, the Flyers got just their second power play of the game but Philadelphia was unable to do much with it.

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
* 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.
* The Flyers now own a perfect 9-0 record when leading after the second period in these playoffs, and went 29-0-2 when leading after two in the regular season.
* The Flyers defense has factored into nine of the 11 goals in this series with 11 points (3g-8a) in the five games.
* Claude Giroux scored his first goal of the playoffs and added an assist on the overtime goal - he now has 14 points (5g-9a) in 15 elimination games.
* Travis Konecny recorded two assists in Game 5... Ivan Provorov logged 29:04 of ice time which led all players in the game.
* Game 6 of the series is slated for Thursday, Sept. 3 - Start & Broadcast times are TBD... Puck drop is 7 p.m. ET (NBCSN & 97.5 The Fanatic).