The Flyers choked away a 3-0 third-period lead Saturday night en route to a crushing 4-3 shootout loss at the hands of the Islanders.
The aftermath: an ugly and lost weekend.
Returning home to the Wells Fargo Center, head coach Alain Vigneault's team was in prime position to secure a noteworthy win following a befuddling letdown in Ottawa the night prior.
The Flyers wilted, though, in the final stanza, wasting away an opportunity for a quality win within the division. The Flyers (10-6-4) have lost three straight games and gone to the shootout seven times this season because of blown leads and an inability to finish games.
After scoring two goals over their last two games, both losses, the Flyers were able to put up three on New York through two periods. The Islanders entered allowing the NHL's fewest goals per game at 2.29.
If only the Flyers kept their foot on the gas.
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Give credit to the Islanders (14-3-1) for storming back and extending their point streak to 14 games (13-0-1). They took advantage of a too-many-men on the ice penalty in the third period and completely had the Flyers on their heels.
• The Flyers are at the 20-game mark and this was not how they wanted to reach it. While they look different this season, they are still inconsistent.
Claude Giroux, Jakub Voracek, James van Riemsdyk and Kevin Hayes went scoreless against New York.
It's a good thing when others are producing, but the Flyers will need to get their big boys going with the others. It hasn't happened yet and the team's record reflects it.
• Brian Elliott came in and out of his crease quite often Saturday night. He had a weird game as he made some timely saves but fell flat in the third period.
That's when they really needed him.
• Oskar Lindblom has arguably been the Flyers' best forward 20 games into the season. The 23-year-old plays on both special teams units and has nine goals and seven assists.
Other NHL players with nine goals so far: Patrick Kane, Sebastian Aho and T.J. Oshie.
Lindblom had a two-point effort Saturday, marking his third multi-point game of the season after having four all of last season.
He has run away with the opportunity given to him by Vigneault and company.
LINDBLOM ADDS TO THE LEAD! pic.twitter.com/5Biw7KHKDV— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) November 17, 2019
• The new line of Lindblom, Joel Farabee and Sean Couturier features plenty of intrigue.
The group opened the game's scoring just 1:38 into the action when Lindblom found Couturier, who had a two-point performance himself. The Flyers were 12-5-2 when Couturier had a multi-point game last season.
Lindblom, Couturier and Farabee combined for five points. It still wasn't enough, which is troubling.
Sean Couturier: Certified sniper pic.twitter.com/90QAWqHZbm— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) November 17, 2019
• Ivan Provorov and Shayne Gostisbehere have been flip-flopping on the first and second power play units. Provorov was moved off the first group in Friday night's 2-1 loss to the Senators.
"Provy started off, he had three turnovers in the first 10 minutes, made a switch," Vigneault said before Saturday night's game. "Ghost seemed to me that he was playing a little bit better. If you want to play, you've got to make the plays."
Provorov made one on the man advantage Saturday to give the Flyers a 2-0 lead in the opening frame. He has four goals and nine assists in 20 games. Last season, he had four goals and eight assists through 40 games. The addition of Matt Niskanen has been huge for the 22-year-old defenseman.
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PROVOROV BLAST! pic.twitter.com/toNzi95Oja— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) November 17, 2019
• A little over two hours before puck drop, Vigneault said the Flyers had lineup decisions to make regarding some players nursing minor injuries.
The club's full roster took warmups. Afterward, Philippe Myers and Carsen Twarynski were the scratches as Robert Hagg and Chris Stewart played in their spots.
It's uncertain why the Flyers went that route. Myers, though, will be back in the lineup as soon as possible. The 22-year-old defenseman has been great with three goals, an assist and a plus-7 mark in eight games since being called up from AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley.
Twarynski, a 21-year-old forward, is in a more precarious spot with Scott Laughton (broken finger) nearing his return from long-term injured reserve. Laughton could be back as soon as next Saturday's game against the Flames.
• The Flyers rocked military appreciation jerseys during warmups.
The @NHLFlyers will honor the military tonight.
As part of that, they'll be wearing these military-inspired sweaters during warmups which they'll hand off to members of the @FlyersWarrior hockey team members prior to the game. 🇺🇸🏒🧡🖤 #FlyOrDie pic.twitter.com/bAkdqIHsev— Taryn Hatcher (@TarynNBCS) November 16, 2019
#Flyers military appreciation. pic.twitter.com/us3YszA0pV— Jordan Hall (@JHallNBCS) November 16, 2019
The @NHLFlyers gave the @FlyersWarrior the jerseys off their backs after warmups. pic.twitter.com/cUXzqrwSIp— Bill Meltzer (@billmeltzer) November 16, 2019
• The Flyers are off Sunday and practice Monday at 11:30 a.m. in Voorhees, New Jersey, before traveling to Florida for a matchup Tuesday with Joel Quenneville's Panthers (7 p.m. ET/NBCSP).
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