Flyers, Islanders in ‘must-win’ mode amid playoff chase
The Philadelphia Flyers will look to inch closer to a playoff spot when they visit the New York Islanders on Friday in Elmont, N.Y.
The Flyers (37-26-12, 86 points) fell 4-2 to the visiting Detroit Red Wings on Thursday, keeping them two points back of the second wild card in the Eastern Conference -- a spot now held by the Ottawa Senators.
"Every game's a must-win at this point," said forward Travis Konecny, who leads the Flyers in goals (27), assists (39) and points (66). "We're looking at (Friday), another good team we're playing against, but this locker room here, we all believe that we're better than any opponent we're playing right now.
"Tough to get the loss, but we have all the confidence in the world that we're going to keep playing good."
It was Philadelphia's second straight loss after winning eight of its previous 10 games (8-1-1) to pull back into the thick of the playoff race. The team put 34 shots on goal against the Red Wings but also missed the net 21 times.
"We're missing the net way too much," Flyers coach Rick Tocchet said. "It's become a problem this year. I love the effort tonight. (Detroit) had a couple big moments, they scored and we didn't, and that's really what it came down to. We had our chances. We just didn't put them in."
Philadelphia has enjoyed a solid road record this season, going 20-13-4. Four of its final seven games will be on opposing ice.
The Islanders (42-29-5, 89 points), meanwhile, will aim to snap a two-game skid and pull within a point of second place in the Metropolitan Division. New York hasn't played since Tuesday, when it dropped a 4-3 decision to the Buffalo Sabres. The Islanders enter Friday three points behind the second-place Pittsburgh Penguins.
"We did some good things (against Pittsburgh and Buffalo)," forward Brayden Schenn said. "We just didn't do enough good things to win hockey games. So being chased is always a thing. I know teams have games in hand on us now, but at the end of the day, we have to worry about controlling what we can, and that's winning hockey games."
The Islanders are only three points ahead of the Flyers, who have played one fewer game. Offense has been an issue for coach Patrick Roy's squad, which has scored more than three goals only once over its past 11 games - a 5-2 home triumph against the Florida Panthers on March 28.
"It's tight out there. There's not much room," Schenn said. "... Points are so crucial and valuable. We all know that. The way to score goals is getting people and pucks to the net."
They'll be hoping a strong home record can help them bounce back as they look to tighten their hold on a playoff spot. The Islanders are 21-13-2 as the hosts and will play five of their final six games on their own ice.
"It's massive," forward Jean-Gabriel Pageau said. "We've been on the road so much and the travel part, from what I've learned (from) experience, it always catches up towards the end of the year. Just to have that final stretch at home will be massive for everyone."