THE MATCHUPS
It’s a Metropolitan Division clash once again.
After imposing their style on the Capitals in the first round of the playoffs, the Islanders are now tasked with doing the same against another division foe in the Flyers.
The Islanders swept the season series 3-0, including a shootout win in Philadelphia, but the Flyers got hot late in the season and have carried that over into the postseason, where they won all three round-robin games to capture the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. It landed them a first-round matchup with the Canadiens, which they won in six games to set up their meeting with the Islanders.
The Post’s Greg Joyce takes a look at how the teams match up:
GOALTENDING
Playoff hockey, meet Carter
Hart. The 22-year-old was strong during his first two regular seasons and now has been just as impressive in his first shot at the postseason. Hart recorded a pair of shutouts against the Canadiens and through eight postseason games boasts a 1.71 goals-against average and a .943 save percentage.
Semyon Varlamov, meanwhile, has quietly been a rock for the Islanders through two series in Toronto. The veteran hasn’t faced a ton of action, but he has been sharp nonetheless and capped off the first round with a shutout of the Capitals. He owns a 1.67 goals-against average and a .934 save percentage through nine postseason games this year. Edge: Even
DEFENSE
Between Alex Ovechkin, Evgeny Kuznetsov, Aleksander Barkov and Jonathan Huberdeau, the Islanders have faced no shortage of offensive weapons through two rounds of the postseason. Their deep, strong group of defensemen have risen to the occasion, allowing just three fiveon-five goals against the Caps and three against the Panthers. Ryan
Pulock and Adam Pelech have deftly handled top-pair duties while Andy Greene has provided a steady hand since taking over for Johnny
Boychuk.
Ivan Provorov leads the way on the Flyers’ blue line, paired with veteran Matt Niskanen, who will return after being suspended for Game 6 against the Canadiens due to a cross-check. Travis
Sanheim and Philippe Myers make up a young but solid second pair while former standout
Shayne Gostisbehere is fighting to get in the lineup after undergoing a pair of knee surgeries this year. Edge: Islanders
FORWARDS
Sean Couturier isoneofthe best two-way centers in the game, as evidenced by his selection as a Selke Trophy finalist. He’s joined on the top line by Jakub Voracek, who led the Flyers with four goals and three assists against the Canadiens.
The rest of the Flyers’ top forwards were mostly quiet in the first round, but if the likes of Couturier, former Ranger Kevin Hayes, veteran center Claude Giroux ,rightwing Travis Konecny and left wing James
van Riemsdyk — the team’s top-five goal scorers during the regular season who combined for just one goal and 10 assists against the Habs — rediscover their scoring touch, it could be a difference-maker.
The Islanders have gotten huge contributions from the second
line of Anthony Beauvillier-Brock
Nelson-Josh Bailey. Beauvillier is tied for the league lead in playoff goals with six while the line has combined for 11 goals and 15 assists in the postseason. Keeping them hot — and getting another strong effort from the top line of Anders Lee-Mathew Barzal-Jordan Eberle — could go a long way in keeping the Isles alive. Edge: Even
SPECIAL TEAMS
Will either team’s power play finally show up this round?
Both teams’ man-advantage units have struggled this postseason. The Islanders went 2-for-22 against the Capitals, after going 4-for-16 against the Panthers, but showed signs of potentially breaking out late. The Flyers started their series against the Canadiens 1-for17 on the power play before
finishing 4-for-28. They were slightly better than the Isles during the regular season, converting on 20.8 percent of power plays compared to New York’s 17.26 percent.
The Islanders got hurt on the penalty kill against the Capitals, allowing four power-play goals against a lethal unit. The Flyers gave up five goals on 21 penalty kills against the Habs. Edge: Even
COACHING
The two most experienced coaches left in the playoffs will square off in this series.
Alain Vigneault didn’t take long to make his impact felt in Philadelphia. After taking a year off following his firing by the Rangers in 2018, Vigneault led the Flyers back to the playoffs, where they recorded their first series win since 2012. He’s no stranger to the postseason, either, after
bringing the Canucks and Rangers to the Stanley Cup finals in 2011 and 2014, respectively, though he has yet to win it all.
Barry Trotz has one title under his belt and has been pressing all the right buttons to try to win another with the Islanders. The veteran coach has his team buying into the defensive structure and has made the necessary adjustments after their only two losses of the postseason so far. Edge: Even
PREDICTION
The Islanders have been able to mostly suffocate their first two playoff opponents. It won’t come as easy against the Flyers, but their style gets the job done again. Islanders in seven.