The Upshot: Islanders put a hurt on the Philadelphia Flyers in 5-2 win

HOW IT HAPPENED

Zach Parise scored twice on the power play, and Ryan Pulock had four assists as the New York Islanders scored three third-period goals and defeated the Philadelphia Flyers the 5-2 on Saturday night at UBS Arena. Brock Nelson and Anthony Beauvillier scored 22 seconds apart in the third to break a 2-2 tie and send the Flyers (7-10-5) to their 10th straight loss. Semyon Varlamov made 25 saves for New York (15-8-0), which has won four straight.

WHAT WENT RIGHT

Is there a better bargain in the NHL than Zach Parise? A season ago, the veteran forward showed night in and night out that there was still plenty in the tank, even if it took some time for his statistics to match the energy and effort he brought to each shift. This season, Parise's play is being rewarded earlier in the season on the scoresheet. His two power-play goals put him all alone at 92nd in NHL history in goals scored with 415, passing Isles assistant coach John MccLean. The first tied the game at two, and the second put the game out of reach for the Flyers. Parise now has 124 career power-play goals. Only one active U.S.-born player has more: Joe Pavelski (156).

"He has the versatility, first of all he's on the power play, kills penalties, plays against other teams' top lines," Lambert said of Parise. "He's very versatile. There's no question about it. I give him full marks. I thought he was one of the catalysts tonight to get us going.

WHAT WENT WRONG

After a strong start, the second period was lacking for the Islanders as the Flyers took a 2-1 lead when Joel Farabee gave Philadelphia the lead at 9:28 of the period on a Varlamov rebound.

STATS

Per Eric Hornick in The Skinny, Zach Parise scored twice on the power play for the fourth time in his career and the first time since January 27, 2013 (for Minnesota against St. Louis). 

Brock Nelson has scored the game-winner on consecutive days for the second time in his career (also April 8-9, 2017).  Anders Lee has also done that twice (December 19-20, 2014, and January 6-7, 2020), but no other Islander has done that in the last 15 years.

SOCIAL MEDIA MOMENT OF THE GAME

Tony DeAngelo was looking for a fight, and he chose poorly. Once Oliver Wahlstrom got going, he took down DeAngelo and slammed him into the ice repeatedly before skating away. Wahlstrom didn't start the fight, but he did end it. It was the type of effort that brings a team closer together.

“I trained MMA with (Martin) and Pulock a little bit, said Wahlstrom after the game. "It’s a good little technique to have. I’m a big guy and sometimes in my game I throw a big hit here and there, and you’ve got to expect someone to come after you. It’s part of the game. I’ve just got to use it to my ability."

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Islanders and Flyers are set to square off once again on Tuesday at Wells Fargo Center with face-off scheduled for 7:30 PM ET.