Islanders Ridiculous Third Period Comeback to Beat Flyers in Shootout

With a ridiculous third period comeback, the Islanders were able to preserve their point streak and even get the win against division rivals the Philadelphia Flyers.

There’s no better way to say it; Good teams find a way. The Islanders, down 3-0 going into the third period found a way to claw their way back into the game against the Philadelphia Flyers and eventually take two points in the shootout.

By the third period, most of us had settled into the notion that it just wasn’t the Islanders night. They were down 3-0 and just couldn’t catch a break. And that’s fine. It was going to happen at some point.

But Barry Trotz and his team dug deep, hung in there, and found a way to dig themselves out of a 3-0 hole to win 4-3 in a shootout.

First Period

The last thing you want to do is start the game by failing to hold the blue line and then to blow defending a two-on-two situation. That’s exactly what the Islanders did. Sure, Johnny Boychuk could have done a better job at the blue line, but the bigger slip up was Eberle’s defensive coverage on the Flyers first goal.

Eberle’s man was Couturier who was coming into the zone late, not Oskar Lindblom who was carrying the puck. Lindblom was Leddy’s man. Couturier had all day to place his shot to make it 1-0 Flyers.

Flyers added a power-play goal from Ivan Provorov to make it 2-0 after 20.

Second Period

It was just one period, we’ve seen the Islanders have a bad first period and bounce back. Specifically in the second period where they score 36 percent of their goals.

The Islanders would hold a 13-4 shot advantage and a 72 percent Corsi-for at 5on5, and three high-danger chances to the Flyers zero in the second period but they still couldn’t score.

Making things worse was Oskar Lindblom scoring the only goal in the second period to extend Philly’s lead. It was the first time in a long time that Thomas Greiss let in a soft goal. Greiss had the angle right and came out to challenge but Lindblom’s shot still found a hole.

At the other end of the ice, Brian Elliott was having himself one heck of a game. His best stop was on Brock Nelson during the Islanders second power play of the period.

Through 40, Elliott had stopped all 22 shots he faced. Ironically the Islanders were getting Islanders’ed.

Third Period

It was 3-0 Flyers going into the third. But with the way the Islanders played in the second period, there was still plenty of time for them to get back into the game.

First, they’d have to get an early goal. Beauvillier, coming off two goals in their last game was happy to oblige.

Nothing had been going the Islanders way in this game. They hit the crossbar about as often as I stayed in to play Dungeons and Dragons on a Friday night in high school (it was a lot). They even had a 4-on-1 and hit a post!

But after that strong second period and then the Beauivillier goal to start the third the belief that they could turn it around was starting to grow.

The Islanders kept chipping away and were rewarded with their third power play of the night. This time the puck was worked to an open Barzal who found twine to get his ninth of the season. (PS: That ninth goal in 18 games puts Barzal on pace for 41 goals over a full 82 game season.)

The comeback was on. It was one-way traffic since the second period so the goal for the Flyers was to just hold the fort for the last few minutes. It’s a bold strategy.

Of course. It didn’t work.

Anthony Beauvillier

yet again found a way to get the puck into the net for his fourth in two games and the comeback was complete.

Beau went through a dry spell where he wasn’t scoring or putting up points, but he was still engaged and a positive player on the ice. It was only a matter of time before he’d find the back of the net. That time has come.

His now six goals in 18 games puts him on pace for 27 goals in 82 games.

OT/Shootout

Overtime was a cat-and-mouse game between both teams and brought nothing. A few chances but ultimately it resolved nothing. To the non-hockey portion of the evening!

Remember a few years ago when the Islanders were trash in the shootout? Against the Flyers, the Isles didn’t even need a third shooter. Both Eberle and Barzal scored on their shots while Greiss stopped Sean Couturier and Claude Giroux for the win.

Not only was the Islanders point streak alive but they are not 13-0-1 in their last 14 games. That’s 27 points from a possible 28. It’s wild. I think this tweet sums up exactly how most of us are feeling.

Three Stars

1. Anthony Beauvillier: 2 Goals

Beau is scoring like a mad man right now. He looks like a totally different player this season. Not only is he putting up points with more consistency he’s looking stronger on the puck as well.

2. Derick Brassard: 2 Assists

Again, Derick Brassard may never play center again. He’s just too good on the wing. With 13 points in 18 games, he’s on pace for 59 points over 82 games. He scored 23 last year.

3. Mathew Barzal: 1 Goal

What can I say that hasn’t already been said about Mathew Barzal? He’s incredible!