Stat Trick: Philadelphia 4, Isles 3 (Shootout)

In a game that featured 4 fights, perhaps it was the Islanders'
choice of shootout shooters that proved most interesting. On to the
trick:

1. The fights: Weight v. Powe in the first, Thompson v Carcillo, Rechlicz v Cote and Jackman v Asham. Throw in a misconduct to Doug Weight, and it adds up to 70 pen minutes for the night --38 to the Isles.

2. The Isles took a 2-0 lead to the third on goals by Martinek in the first and Tambellini - baseball style - in the 2nd.

3. The scoreless first 40 minutes extended the shutout streak to over 100 minutes. Opponents hit 5 posts in the 5 periods.

...and more...

4.
The Flyers scored three goals in 3:55 early in the third to grab the
league (2 by Lupul and 1 by Hartnell). That ended the Isles pursuit of
something never done in franchise history--win games on consecutive
days, both by shutout.

5. The Flyer lead lasted only 32 seconds before Mark Streit scored to even the game, eventually sending it to a shootout.

6. Marty Biron made 30 saves for his 10th straight win over the Isles; Yann Danis had 33 saves for the Isles.

7. The Flyers scored on both of their shootout shots (Briere and Richards) but the Isles scored on only 1/3. Brendan Witt attempted a SO for the first time in his career but was stopped; Frans Nielsen scored for the Isles, but Mark Streit was stopped to give Philly the win.

8. The Isles have lost 2 straight at home (0-1-1) for the first time since a 4 game skein in January (0-3-1).

9. The Flyers beat the Isles for the 9th straight time; they lead the season series 5-0 ( Isles 0-3-2), and 10 points to 2.

10.
Up next: the Isles have an April Fools' Day date with the Capitals in
Washington. The Isles have dropped all three to Washington this
season, but both games on Long Island went extra time. It will be the
third meeting between the teams on April Fools' Day, but the first since 1979. It will also mark the 31st anniversary of Mike Bossy becoming the first rookie in NHL history to record 50 goals. He scored goals 50 and 51 in the third period against the Caps on 4/1/78; goal 51 was the game winner -- at 19:55 of the third. Now if only I could remember what I need to get at the supermarket!

Forever1940 is the nom de plume of Eric Hornick, statistician on Islander home telecasts since 1982.

Forever1940 is the nom de plume of Eric Hornick, statistician on Islander home telecasts since 1982.