Islanders vs. Flyers NHL20 simulation: Third period collapse results in loss

On Tuesday, the New York Islanders were scheduled to take on the Philadelphia Flyers, we simulated the game using NHL20. Here’s the result.

On Tuesday the New York Islanders were scheduled to play a red hot divisional rival in the Philadelphia Flyers. As we’ve done with the other scheduled games that either won’t happen or will be postponed for later in the year, we’ve used EA Sports NHL20 to simulate what could have happened.

Going into this game the Islanders were 4-1-0 according to our simulations. The one loss came against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Since then they’ve put up a four-game winning streak with the offense flexing their muscles.

See the results for the other simulations here:

• 3-1 loss to Pittsburgh Penguins
• 7-0 win over the Calgary Flames
• 6-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs
• 6-5 shootout win over the New Jersey Devils
• 3-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes

(As always, big thanks to

Ryan Grosso

who is running all of these simulations for us.)

Third Period Collapse

The Flyers came out strong in the first period putting 14 shots on the Islanders goal. Thankfully, Semyon Varlamov was able to close the door and keep all 14 shots out of the net.

With seven shots of their own, the Islanders coasted through the first. Something we’ve seen them do a number of times in non-simulated games. They were fortunate to leave the first-period level at 0-0.

In the second period, the Isles woke up. In less than six minutes Scott Mayfield scored the opening goal of the game before Jordan Eberle doubled the Islanders lead with a power-play goal. With 13 shots in the period to the Flyers six, the Islanders turned the game on its head as it went into the final third.

Ivan Provorov got the Flyers on the board 2:11 into the third, but Matt Martin restored the Islanders two-goal lead just under halfway through the period.

The Flyers played just like they had in the first period. They keep the puck in the Islanders end and kept directing shots towards Semyon Varlamov. Eventually, Oscar Lindblom would get Philadelphia’s second goal of the game and reduce the Isles lead to one.

Not only did that offensive pressure from the Flyers result in a goal, but it also resulted in an extended power play with Mathew Barzal taking a double-minor midway through the third. Philly would score twice on the resulting power play with goals from Jakub Voracek and Travis Konecny.

The Islanders couldn’t find a way back into the game and dropped both points to the Flyers.

Winners and Losers

Winners

Sean Couturier: 3 Assists, +2, 53% FOW
Oscar Lindblom: 1 Goal, 1 Assist, 6 Shots
Travis Konecny: 1 Goal (GWG), 7 Shots

It was a big game for Sean Couturier. The Flyers center put up three helpers and was dominant in the faceoff dot as his team fought hard to get back into the game and get the two points.

Losers 

Mathew Barzal: 1 Assist, 4PIM
Semyon Varlamov: 33 Saves, 0.892SV%, 4 GA
Leo Komarov: 2 PIM, 1 Shot

Technically Mathew Barzal ended up costing the Islanders the game as the Flyers converted the game tieing goal and the game-winner on his double minor.