Islanders vs. Flyers: Inside the Box Score

The Islanders lost their first game at home since December 23 when they dropped to the Philadelphia Flyers, 3-2 on Thursday night at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

The Islanders outplayed the Flyers, out-shooting them 37-25. 

Head Coach, Jack Capuano said that he thought the team had played really well tonight and it was a frustrating loss because it was one of the better games the Isles had played recently.

Flyers goalie, Sergei Bobrovsky was fantastic putt himself in good position to made phenomenal saves again and again, including one on Michael Grabner in a penalty shot in the first period. He later made a great glove save on a backhand by Grabner.

This is nothing new for the Flyers though. The Flyers have now won seven in a row against the Islanders and 26 of their last 28 games against the Isles.

John Tavares was named to his first all-star team earlier in the day and responded with an outstanding effort, providing a goal and an assist.

Along with Tavares, the red hot Kyle Okposo potted his tenth goal of the season for the Isles.

For the Flyers, goals were scored by Hartnell, Sean Couturier and Wayne Simmonds. Couturier, a player the Islanders passed on in the 2011 Amateur Draft scored what at the time appeared to be an insurance goal but ultimately ended up being the difference in the victory for the Flyers.

 After a solid first period by Evgeni Nabokov, Nabokov looked shaky several times, especially getting tangled up behind the net.

 Islanders commentator, Butch Goring described Nabokov as “an adventure when behind the net.”

 On one occasion, Nabokov ended up having to deke a Flyer forward and flipping the puck towards the blue line. The puck was taken by a Flyer and passed in deep to Wayne Simmonds. Simmonds then shot the puck at the net. The puck deflected off Nabokov and it turned into a bad angle goal to give the Flyers the 2-0 lead.

The play of John Tavares and Andrew Macdonald stood out from this game. Tavares was involved in several scoring chances including the goal to close the gap with 16 seconds left in the third period.

The Islanders lack of scoring production from the second, third and fourth line continues to be an issue. On the positive side, Kyle Okposo continues to flourish on the top line playing along side Matt Moulson and Tavares. He now has at least a point in five of his last six games

Islanders next play the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday where they will look to rebound from this loss.