The Upshot: NY Islanders Extend Winning Streak to Three with 3-1 Victory Over Flyers

HOW IT HAPPENED

Anthony Duclair and Bo Horvat scored 55 seconds apart late in the first period, and Ilya Sorokin made 29 saves as the New York Islanders defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 3-1 on Friday night, extending their winning streak to three games. Brock Nelson also scored, while Kyle Palmieri added two assists for the Islanders, who have won six of their last eight games. Tyson Foerster scored for the Flyers, who are now 1-7-1 in back-to-backs this season.

WHAT WENT RIGHT

Playing the Flyers for the second time on the homestand, the game was expected to be physical, and the Islanders matched it with Alexander Romanov setting the tone with a big hit on Cam York just as the Flyers forward was about to unleash a shot. “It was a big hit,” Nelson said. “It was heavy, he’s a big boy and he lays the body so when he’s playing tough like that it’s a great sign for us and provides us with a lot of energy.

Also, Anthony Duclair netted his 150th goal of his career, as he and Horvat scored 55 seconds apart to take a 2-1 lead after the first period. If Duclair can start find his game and confidence after a slow recovery from his early season injury, it will be a big boost heading into the February break.

WHAT WENT WRONG

The Isles allowed the opening goal for the 30th time this season, matching Seattle and San Jose for the most in the NHL when Foerster scored with his 13th goal at 14:14 of the first. It's the type of stat you ignore when you're winning, but the preference is obviously to score early and build off that momentum rather than have to recapture it the way they have the last few games.

STATS OF THE GAME

Per Eric Hornick in The Skinny, Bo Horvat scored for the third time in two games and the seventh time in eight games and extended his point streak to four games . The Isles are 12-2-1 this season when Horvat scores a goal.

SOCIAL MEDIA MOMENT OF THE GAME

It was Star Wars night at the force was with the game operations team that put together this spectaculr ice projection before the game.

WHAT'S NEXT

The Islanders are back on home-ice on Saturday night against the Carolina Hurricanes. Face-off is set for 7:30 PM EST.