Islanders Face Flyers In Saturday Matinee: Lines & Notes
The Islanders begin the first of a back-to-back.
With their tragic number down to one point, the New York Islanders (34-33-12) begin a weekend back-to-back against the Philadelphia Flyers (32-37-9).
Puck drop at Wells Fargo Center is scheduled for 12:30 p.m., and the game can be found on MSGSN.
The Islanders have a 2-1-0 edge in the season series to this point, blanking the Flyers 3-0 in their last meeting. Three different players lit the lamp for New York in the win, with Ilya Sorokin pitching a 23-save shutout.
PROJECTED LINEUP:
Lee-Horvat-Palmieri
Tsyplakov-Pageau-Holmstrom
Engvall-Cizikas-Fasching
Martin-MacLean-Gatcomb
Romanov-DeAngelo
Pelech-Pulock
Dobson-Mayfield
Hogberg
Lennox
Who’s Hot:
Simon Holmstrom has a three-game point streak coming into Saturday’s game. The forward has two goals and four assists for six points in that span. Additionally, he scored the game-winning goal in their last meeting.
Kyle Palmieri has points in four straight games against Philadelphia after a goal in their last matchup. He has a red light and four helpers in that stretch. He leads the team in scoring across the board against Philadelphia, boasting 14 goals and 14 assists for 28 points in 36 games.
Marcus Hogberg will start the front end of the back-to-back on Saturday. He allowed eight goals on 30 shots by the New York Rangers in Thursday's rout. He faced the Flyers once previously in his career, making 34 saves on 38 shots in an overtime loss on Dec. 21, 2019.
OPPONENTS NOTES:
Tyson Foerster recorded his first career hat-trick against the Rangers on Wednesday. The forward has six goals and three assists for nine points over his last eight games.
Travis Konecny has a five-game assist streak coming into Saturday’s game. He has seven assists in that stretch to extend his career-high in helpers to 51.
Ryan Poehling had a pair of assists on Wednesday to extend his point streak to four games. The centerman has four red lights and four helpers for eight points in that span, setting new career highs in goals and points with 12 and 29, respectively.
Sean Couturier leads the Flyers in scoring across the board against the Islanders. In 48 games against New York, he has 11 goals and 19 assists for 30 points.
Samuel Ersson will start Saturday’s game for Philadelphia. The netminder last started on April 5 against the Montreal Canadiens, surrendering three goals on 26 shots in a loss. In three career games against the Islanders, he is 2-0-0 with a 2.07 GAA and .917 SV%, most recently making 26 saves on 29 shots in a win on Jan. 16.
FLYERS LINES:
Foerster -Cates - Brink
Konecny -Couturier -Michkov
Pelletier -Poehling -Tippett
Deslauriers - Dorwart -Hathaway
Seeler -Sanheim
York -Drysdale
Zamula -Andrae
Ersson
Fedotov
Complimentary Parking!
Once again for the 2024-25 season, those who drive a BMW can receive complimentary single-game parking in the Emerald Parking lot.
Please click the BMW | Islanders image below for parking registration information.
The Cole Eiserman situation is interesting. People are convinced he is going to want to go back to college for another year or two. I honestly don’t think the kid is interested in playing at that level anymore. He is a showtime dude made for the NHL. He sees his friends transition just fine to the NHL. This kid is easily going to be 6’1” 200 lbs come Camp next year. I don’t understand what he can get out of staying in college. I guess they can work him into the PK lol. Jesus let the kid rip, he could be a Bossy type talent. He fines open ice and can score from distance. Is he a defensive liability if so he should fit in with the rest of the Islanders forwards just fine. Put the kid with Horvat or Barzel one of the top two centers. The Dream Outcome of this offseason is getting Marner.
Holmstrom. Horvat Marner
Eiserman. Barzel. Tsyplakov
Lee. JG. Palmeri
DuClair. Casey. Gatcomb
Mac
Pelech. Pulock
Romanov. Dobson
George. Boqvist
Mayfield
Sorokin
Hogberg
Varley ( if he returns)
How the money works is Dobson takes a long term 8x8 still a gamble but Hopefully Chara takes the kid on and Tudors him
Romanov takes a long term 5 X8
Sign Holmstrom bridge deal he is going to be dynamic one day. 200ft demon can excel 5x5 PK PP
Engvall you bury him in the minors you return the favor by letting him ride the bus and play every game in Bridgeport.
Palms has to come in cheap if not all his money goes to sign Marner.
Marner and Eiserman completely change the dynamic of this team. We are in games but lacking fire power. Plus Holmstrom and Tsyplakov are going to be better next year.
If Ownership turns their back on Patrick they are doomed. If they stick with Lou and let him hire another coach it’s going to make Bridgeport look like a Cup Contender. If you stick with same structure okay. I personally think the GM job should go to Patrick, and he can stay behind the bench or hire a young coach. I personally think Patrick was fine if DuClair wants to take his stick and go home F**K him. He has been a flawed player since he entered the league. They repeated the Engvall mistake by looking in the bargain bin and hoping to come out with a player living up to his physical talent. Both ended up being damaged floor models , who sunk to their lowest level. They got what they wanted long term contracts, they have NO pride. One of are most pressing issues is what to do with these deadbeats. More than likely ownership sees Patrick as the long term answer.