FLYERS 2, ISLANDERS 1

Jon Sim scored his fourth goal of the season but it was not enough as the Philadelphia Flyers defeated the Islanders, 2-1 at the Nassau Coliseum.

Goals have been hard to come by for starting goaltender Martin Biron, as the Islanders have averaged 1.7 goals in games started by him.

"Marty's been playing great for us," Trent Hunter said after the game. "We haven't been giving him the offensive support needed. Weve got to be better for him."

The Flyers victory now gives them 13 straight victories over the Islanders, dating back to the 2007-08 season.

Hunter felt that statistics like that dont really play into his teams psyche.

"You try to just focus on doing what makes your team successful," Hunter said. "You can't worry about rivalries and records. You just have to worry about the next game and worry about getting the two points."

Danny Briere put the Flyers on the board first just 1:51 into the first period with his 13th goal of the season. Jeff Carter skated into the Islanders zone and managed to allude what would have been a crunching open ice hit from Andy Sutton. Just as Sutton passed Carter, the Philadelphia center passed it off to a streaking Briere, who roofed a shot over Islanders goaltender Martin Birons left shoulder for the 1-0 Philadelphia lead.

"I think we came out a little bit flat, but we were able to get things going a little bit," Hunter said. "They're a team that capitalizes on mistakes."

Mark Streit gave the Islanders their first good scoring chance of the game midway through the first period. Streit capitalized on an errant Philadelphia pass and fired a slap shot towards Philadelphia goaltender Michael Leighton. The shot was redirected through a maze of bodies and sailed just wide of the right post to keep the Islanders off the scoreboard.

Leighton stopped all 12 shots the Islanders threw at him in the first period.

Jon Sim tied things up for the Islanders 3:35 into the second period with his fourth goal of the season. The play developed as Mark Streit and Sim tried to lead a rush through three Philadelphia defensemen that were back-checking.

Streit batted the puck down while Sim kept churning towards the Philadelphia net, leading the Islanders agitator on a breakaway. Once Sim got control of the puck, he fired a wrist shot over the glove of Leighton to tie the game up at 1-1.

Jeff Carter retook Philadelphia's one-goal lead with 3:07 left in the second period with his 14th goal of the season. Scott Hartnell led a two-on-one rush with Carter down the ice with Sutton the only man back. Sutton fell to the ice to play the pass however Hartnell was able to lift the puck over the Islanders defenseman's stick. Carter one-timed the pass from Hartnell through the right hip of Biron and into the net to give the Flyers a 2-1 advantage.

"I think we came out a little bit flat, but we were able to get things going a little bit," Hunter said. "They're a team that capitalizes on mistakes."

Briere thought he had put the Flyers up by two goals 3:06 into the third period. Briere was flanking Carter on a two-on-one rush down the Islanders zone. After receiving the pass, Briere cut in front of Biron and fired a shot on the Islanders goaltender. Biron made the save the the puck tricked past him and looked to be going wide. As Briere kept cutting to the net, he kicked the puck past the goal line to attempt to up the Flyers advantage to 3-1.

Referee Dan Marouelli originally signaled goal, but the play was taken to a formal video review where it was deemed that Briere put the puck in the net with a distinct kicking motion, nullifying the goal and keeping the score 2-1.

However the Islanders were unable to get one by Leighton in the third period as he stopped seven shots in the final frame to preserve the Flyers lead and the victory.


Three Stars of the Game:
1. Jeff Carter, PHI: Game winning goal, assist
2. Scott Hartnell, PHI: Two assists
3. Jon Sim, NYI: Goal

Slapshots: Philadelphia outshot the Islanders, 30-29...Mark Streit led all Islanders with 25:12 in ice time, and shots with five...Philadelphia was 0-for-2 on the power play, while the Islanders were unsuccessful on three opportunities...Jeff Tambellini and Freddy Meyer (both healthy) were the Islanders scratches...This was the third meeting between these two teams, with Philadelphia holding a 2-0 advantage over the Islanders...Islanders now hold an all-time record of 88-109-29 against the Flyers.


ISLANDERS
Forwards
26 Matt Moulson - 91 John Tavares - 57 Blake Comeau
12 Josh Bailey - 51 Frans Nielsen - 21 Kyle Okposo
16 Jon Sim - 13 Rob Schremp - 7 Trent Hunter
28 Tim Jackman - 11 Nate Thompson - 10 Richard Park

Defensemen
2   Mark Streit - 47 Andrew MacDonald
25 Andy Sutton - 38 Jack Hillen
32 Brendan Witt - 8 Bruno Gervais

Goaltenders
43 Martin Biron
30 Dwayne Roloson

PHILADELPHIA FLYERS
Forwards
12 Simon Gagne - 18 Mike Richards -28 Claude Giroux
19 Scott Hartnell - 48 Danny Briere - 17 Jeff Carter
21 James van Riemsdyk - 36 Darroll Powe - 45 Arron Asham
13 Dan Carcillo - 11 Blair Betts - 14 Ian Laperriere

Defensemen
20 Chris Pronger - 25 Matt Carle
26 Danny Syvret - 44 Kimmo Timonen
3   Oskars Bartulis - 5 Braydon Coburn

Goaltenders
49 Michael Leighton
33 Brian Boucher