New York Islanders at Philadelphia Flyers [Game #33 thread]

The New York Islanders are in Philadelphia for the rubber match of their three-game series with the Flyers.

For once, this is a straight-up “who ever wins, wins” ending to one of these, uncomplicated by three-point games or shootout shenanigans. (Okay, it doesn’t really matter who “wins” this series, it’s not actually a series, it’s just a handful of consecutive games thanks to pandemic scheduling. But we humans like to our organize our thoughts in certain ways.)

The Islanders will return “virtually the same” lineup, Barry Trotz said earlier today, which probably means the same roster but with Semyon Varlamov in goal instead of Ilya Sorokin.

One assumes that also means Thomas Hickey is in again and Leo Komarov is...getting...time...next to our precious offensive threats. Leo even got a spell for the morning media availability, so enjoy him fielding questions here.

Barry Trotz’s full availability can be viewed here:

The Flyers, in contrast, have several changes:

• They confirmed a change in goal: Brian Elliott starts, and Carter Hart won’t even dress (he starts tomorrow against New Jersey instead.
• On the blueline, they will insert Shane Ghostisbehere for Nate Prosser
• And of primary importance, this morning they hoped Sean Couturier, who was a late scratch Saturday, would return to the lineup

Remember: No game tomorrow for the Isles, Tuesday’s meeting in Boston has been Covid-postponed.