Flyers-Islanders Preseason Observations: An Uninspiring Effort in Finale

BOX SCORE

With their prized prospects watching from the press box and playing mainly with an NHL roster Sunday, the Flyers didn't exactly close out the preseason with a bang, losing, 5-2, to the New York Islanders at the Wells Fargo Center.

Playing without Sam Morin, Travis Sanheim or Oskar Lindblom for the first time during the exhibition season, the Flyers looked flat and uninterested in their final preseason tuneup.   

The Flyers closed out the preseason with a 3-2-3 record, losing three of those games to the Islanders in three different buildings. They dropped the preseason opener at Nassau Coliseum and lost a split-squad game at the Barclays Center. 

After the game, the Flyers assigned Lindblom to AHL Lehigh Valley, while general manager Ron Hextall said Nolan Patrick and Robert Hagg made the team.

• The Islanders quickly built a two-goal lead in the opening minutes of the second period, scoring twice in a span of 45 seconds. Anders Lee jumped on Devon Toews' slap shot that hit off the backboards and backhanded the puck past Brian Elliott. New York's power-play goal gave the Isles a 2-1 lead. They increased that margin to 3-1 when Anthony Beauvillier took a pass from Casey Cizikas and fired a shot that slipped under Elliott's blocker arm.    

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• New York quickly jumped out to a three-goal lead as they converted a 4-on-3 power play when Beauvillier whistled a one-timer top shelf over Elliott giving the Islanders a 4-1 lead.

• The Flyers cut the Isles' lead in half to 4-2 when Wayne Simmonds redirected Shayne Gostisbehere's shot from the point for a power-play goal. The Flyers finished the game 1 for 6 on the man advantage. 

• The Flyers jumped on the board first when their fourth line converted a 2-on-1 break, as Scott Laughton fed Michael Raffl on the right side that easily beat goaltender Thomas Greiss.

• Playing without captain John Tavares and three of their top defensemen, the Islanders responded with 6:50 remaining in the opening period when Dennis Seidenberg unleashed a slap shot at the top of the right circle that Elliott couldn't handle either.

• As the Flyers' prospects were dressed in suits and ties Sunday, they had their bags packed not knowing if they would be boarding a plane for San Jose or making the drive to Allentown until Flyers management made the final decisions regarding the team's 23-man roster.

• Sanheim and Travis Konecny led the Flyers in goals during the preseason with three. 

• Earlier in the week, the NHL approved the two-minute minor penalty that will accompany a failed challenge on a goal where there's a questionable onsides. Dave Hakstol believes the new rule discourages teams and coaches from using their one challenge that could have a major impact on the outcome of the game.

"Not only do you have to believe that the information you have is correct," Hakstol said before Sunday's preseason finale, "but you got to make sure there's an element of decision-making as well in terms of is there enough evidence to overturn it."

Lines, pairings and scratches
Claude Giroux-Sean Couturier-Jakub Voracek
Jordan Weal-Nolan Patrick-Wayne Simmonds
Dale Weise-Valtteri Filppula-Travis Konecny
Michael Raffl-Scott Laughton-Taylor Leier

Ivan Provorov-Andrew MacDonald
Brandon Manning-Radko Gudas
Shayne Gostisbehere-Robert Hagg

Scratches: Jori Lehtera, Matt Read, Travis Sanheim, Sam Morin, Oskar Lindblom

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