Isles cruise by Flyers in Game 7 win

NHL PLAYOFFS

Thomas Greiss stopped 16 shots and the Islanders advanced to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 1993, beating the Flyers 4-0 in Game 7 of the secondround series Saturday night.

Brock Nelson had a goal and two assists, and defensemen Scott Mayfield and Andy Greene scored 3:46 apart in the first period. Anthony Beauvillier had an empty-netter with 6:18 left and New York bounced back after failing to close out the series in losing the previous two games in overtime, and advanced to face the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Greiss posted his first career playoff shutout in his first Game 7. He was making his third appearance of the series, and second start, in place of Semyon Varlamov, who allowed nine goals on 63 shots in losing the past two games in overtime, including a 5-4 double-overtime loss in Game 6.

Without being specific, Islanders coach Barry Trotz noted players being injured when asked about his goaltenders during his pregame news conference.

Greiss picked up the Islanders’ final two wins of the series, after a 26-save outing in a win in Game 4.

The Islanders face a short turnaround in having to travel to Edmonton, Alberta, to face the well-rested Lightning in a conference final series that opens Monday. The Lightning have been off since a 3-2 doubleovertime win over the Bruins in Game 5 on Monday.

It's the third meeting between the two teams, with the Lightning winning the previous two in five games. ■ Golden Knights forward Ryan Reaves will miss the opener of Western Conference final against the Stars after the NHL suspended him a game for an illegal check to the head of Canucks’ Tyler Motte. Reaves hit Motte in the jaw with a check late in the second period of Game 7 on Friday night and was penalized and ejected. The league suspended him Saturday for Game 1 after a hit it considered avoidable but not intentional.