The Upshot: Inexperienced NY Islanders lineup falls 5-2 to full Flyer squad

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Philadelphia Flyers wrapped up their pre-season with a 5-2 win over the New York Islanders at Wells Fargo Center on Thursday night. There were five different goal scorers for the Flyers, who scored four unanswered goals after Karson Kuhlman opened the scoring for the Isles. Philly goaltender Carey Hart needed only. 14 saves in the win for the Flyers, who finished their pre-season with a 3-2-1 record. Semyon Varlamov made 26 saves in the loss.

WHAT WENT RIGHT

Two depth forwards the Islanders signed this off-season both found the back of the net on Thursday. Karson Kuhlman scored the opening goal of the game at 9:53 of the first period on a breakaway for a 1-0 Isles lead. Trailing 4-2 entering the third period, the Isles took advantage of a Carter Hart turnover and Oliver Wahlstrom fed Brian Pinho at 5:45 of the period to make it a 4-2 game. Oliver Wahlstrom and Arnaud Durandeau picked up assists.

Each received praise from head coach Lane Lambert after the game.

“Both of those guys played well,” Lambert said. “Kuhlman was using his speed and clearly made a nice move on the breakaway goal. I was very happy with tonight in terms of his decision-making and his play structurally so that was a very positive situation, both of those guys.”

WHAT WENT WRONG

It's been a disappointing camp for defenseman Samuel Bolduc as it feels that Sebastian Aho, the favorite to entering the pre-season has locked in the sixth defenseman spot for Opening Night, aided by Bolduc mistakes that have carried over from how he ended last season and in his two playoff games against the Carolina Hurricanes.

“Everybody makes mistakes, it’s probably not the last one I’m going to make, but I’ll put it behind me and keep going forward," said Bolduc after the game.

Lambert acknowledged that Bolduc played better as the game went on, but it's hard to imagine those mistakes don't lead to the waiver-exempt Bolduc as the seventh defenseman to start.

STATS OF THE GAME

With neither Adam Pelech or Ryan Pulock in the lineup, Noah Dobson logged the most ice-time of any defenseman, skating 20:56 TOI. Dobson finished a -2 on the night. No Islanders had more than two shots on goal.

SOCIAL MEDIA MOMENT OF THE GAME

We give you .... "The Goalie Helmet Beer Tower," now available at UBS Arena

WHAT'S NEXT

There's one pre-season game to go and it's later tonight when the Isles host the New Jersey Devils at UBS Arena. Puck drops at 7:00 PM ET.