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Islanders score three after Carter Hart departs, beat Flyers 3-2 in OT

Posted on by Mike Dusak

First period

Michael Raffl would start the scoring early, potting a really smooth deflection off a nice Chris Bigras pass to put the Flyers up 1-0 less than four minutes in. Nate Prosser would also get an assist, but this one was about the superb placement from Bigras and the technical stick work of Raffl in front on the opening tally as Thomas Greiss was left with no chance on the play.

Scary moment for later on in the first as Scott Laughton got crunched along the boards, getting up very gingerly. As you can see below, Laughton was kind of angled towards the boards and sliding towards a rather vulnerable position when he was rammed into the glass by Steve Bernier. Laughton, who would return to the game later, should either anchor the Flyers’ fourth line or play up in the lineup again and on the penalty kill as a Swiss Army knife for coach Alain Vigneault.

Raffl’s would be the only goal of the first 20 as Carter Hart kept the Islanders off the scoreboard in his first action of the preseason, turning aside all six shots he faced in the frame.

Second period

Hart would keep holding things down early in the second with a couple of saves to keep the Flyers’ 1-0 lead intact.

Things would heat up fast with Mikhail Vorobyev and Mathew Barzal getting into a scrum resulting in a bloodied Vorobyev and a four-minute major to Barzal. The Flyers player, not the one who spells his first name with just one T, needs a strong camp to try and earn his way back onto the NHL roster to start the season as he did a year ago. A push from German Rubstov, Joel Farabee, and Morgan Frost has complicated things for Vorobyev, as have the less appealing veteran options like Andy Andreoff among others.

On the ensuing power play the Flyers couldn’t muster anything into the Islanders net, but did manage to rip one off Connor Bunnaman as he crowded the net front courtesy of Nicolas Aube-Kubel. That’s gonna leave a mark, Ken.

A stupid penalty to the stupidly in camp Chris Stewart tacked on a few more stops for Hart before he gave way to J.F. Berube in net. Hart keep the Islanders off the board, and looked pretty sharp in turning aside all 14 Islanders shots in his 30 minutes or so of work.

Speaking of players competing for the open roster spot in the bottom six, German Rubstov rang one off the crossbar behind the Islanders’ new goaltender after a quick rush up ice following a forced turnover. Rubstov dominated the rookie game between these two teams last week, and nearly picked up where he left off.

No more scoring in this barn burner of a preseason tilt, Raffl’s goal still the only one on the board after 40 minutes of riveting action.

Third period

A strong push from the Islanders started the period and a power play helped build momentum before they got an equalizer from a pair of NHLers with Barzal finding Derick Brassard for the one-timer to make it 1-1 with 13 minutes and change remaining.

Flyers had a response quick, though, with Maksim Sushko breaking the tie with after a seeing-eye point shot hit him in the traffic to make it 2-1 good guys. Bigras continued his strong game to go along with another assist as he sent the puck towards the net.

But just when you though the proceedings were over, Barzal would find Jordan Eberle to tie the game at 2-2 with just 1:34 remaining. Given the superior NHL-level talent on the ice for the Islanders, not a shock to see them at least earn some free hockey for the folks.

Overtime

In the 3-on-3 session the Flyers would be doomed by goaltending not named Carter Hart as Berube left a rebound out front and Mason Jobst put it home to give the Isles at 3-2 win.

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