Islanders romp past Flyers into Eastern finals
TORONTO — Coach Barry Trotz has spent the past two seasons attempting to instill a team-first, all-in identity with the New York Islanders.
No more was that evident than Saturday night, when the Islanders handily confronted their biggest test of the year in beating the Philadelphia Flyers 4-0 in Game 7 of the second-round series.
The Islanders advanced to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 1993, where they'll face the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The win came courtesy of a backup goalie, Thomas Greiss, stopping 16 shots for his first playoff career shutout in his first Game 7. Brock Nelson scored a goal and set up two others. And defensemen Scott Mayfield, with his first career playoff goal, and late-season trade addition Andy Greene, spurred the victory by scoring 3:46 apart in the first period.
"We didn't get small by the moment. We got big by the moment," said Trotz, who landed in New York after leading the Washington Capitals to a Stanley Cup championship in 2018.
"I liked the fact that we recognized when we're at our best. And when we're at our best, there's always a sharp focus," he added. "It's the commitment. If you need to block a shot, you block a shot. Don't go halfway in, be all in."
It was a game in which the Islanders outshot the the Flyers 26-16, and showed resilience in bouncing back after losing the past two games in overtime.
For Nelson, the win helped ease the memories of past Islanders playoff losses, including the sting of losing Game 7 to Washington in the opening round of the 2015 playoffs.
"I'm sure everybody remembers that day. It wasn't our best game, and it's always tough losing a Game 7," Nelson said. "And getting this one tonight definitely feels good."
The Flyers ran out of gas, with coach Alain Vigneault pulling Carter Hart for an extra attacker with seven minutes remaining, which led to Anthony Beauvillier sealing the win with an empty netter.
Hart stopped 22 shots.
"After they scored that first goal, we just never had that same bounce or the same pop," Vigneault said. "We weren't good enough tonight. That's why we lost."