Game Preview: Islanders at Flyers

NEW YORK ISLANDERS (25-22-5) VS PHILADELPHIA FLYERS (21-21-9)
7 PM ET | WELLS FARGO CENTER
WATCH: MSGSN2 | MSGGO | ESPN+
LISTEN: 88.7FM | 103.9FM | 1050AM
After eight days rest for the NHL All-Star break, the New York Islanders return to action to take on the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday at 7 pm.
The Islanders had an eventful eight-day break. Bo Horvat was acquired from the Vancouver Canucks for Anthony Beauvillier, Aatu Raty and a conditional 2023 first-round pick on Jan. 30 and he signed an eight-year contract extension on Sunday. The Islanders had three representatives at the NHL All-Star Weekend in South Florida in Brock Nelson, Ilya Sorokin and Horvat.

The Islanders' newest acquisition will hit the ice for the first time in Monday's Metropolitan Division showdown against the Flyers.
"I just can't wait to start playing games," Horvat said following his first practice on Sunday.

Prior to the break, the Islanders completed a successful back-to-back set, beating the Detroit Red Wings 2-0 on Jan. 27 and Vegas Golden Knights 2-1 in OT on Jan. 28. Anders Lee scored in regulation in the second frame, while Mat Barzal finished the job in overtime with the game-winner. Chandler Stephenson had the lone goal for Las Vegas.
The Flyers also entered the break on a high note, as Carter Hart and the Flyers shut out the Winnipeg Jets 4-0 on Jan. 28, snapping a three-game losing streak. Noah Cates (1G, 1A), former Islander Kieffer Bellows, Owen Tippett (1G, 1A) and Tony DeAngelo powered the offense, while Hart turned aside all 40 Winnipeg shots in the victory. The 24-year-old netminder earned his first shutout of the season and fourth of his career.
The season series between the two teams is knotted at one apiece. The Islanders dropped their most previous game against the Flyers in a 3-1 decision on Nov. 29, but won 5-2 in their first matchup of the season on Nov. 26.
The Islanders stand sixth the Metropolitan Division (55 points), while the Flyers trail closely behind (51 points) with one game in-hand.
The Islanders won the season series in four of the last five seasons, with a record of 16-5-2 over that span.

ISLANDERS NOTES:

• Bo Horvat signed an eight-year deal with the Islanders on Sunday. Islanders President and General Manager Lou Lamoriello said the Islanders' new acquisition will help lift the power play, which stands last in the league (15.5%). Horvat has 11 power play goals on the season and 18 total points with the man advantage.
• The Islanders (55 points) are two points behind the Pittsburgh Penguins (57 points), who occupy the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference. Holding the first wild card spot are the Washington Capitals (60 points), but the Islanders have one game in-hand.
"Let's make a push and really get things rolling," Lee said of the team's mindset for the rest of the season. "Horvat] brings a great spark into our room and guys are looking forward to the last 30 [games] plus."
**ISLES AT FLYERS**
**ISLANDERS ARTICLES**
[Bo Horvat Signs Eight Year Deal
Horvat Gets Down to Business with Isles
Horvat, Nelson and Sorokin Wrap ASG
Isles Longread: Brock Star
The Story of Ilya Sorokin
GAME EXTRAS
Pucks and Paws
Reverse Retro Jersey
Talkin' Isles
• Noah Dobson and Hudson Fasching skated with the team on Sunday. Dobson missed four consecutive games with a lower-body injury, while Fasching (lower-body) missed six games and was placed on IR on Jan. 23. Head Coach Lane Lambert is hopeful about their returns to the lineup, but did not provide a definite answer regarding Monday's game against the Flyers.
"I thought Dobson looked good today," Lambert said following Sunday's practice. "We'll make a decision on Fasching [when] we hear about how both of them feel."
• Simon Holmstrom and Samuel Bolduc were recalled on Sunday after both players were in the lineup for Bridgeport on Friday.
• Mat Barzal netted the game winner in the 2-1 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights on Jan. 28. Barzal enters Monday night's matchup against Philadelphia averaging over a point-per-game (8G, 18A) in 26 career games against the franchise.
• Brock Nelson is tied with Lee for a team-high 19 goals, but is in sole possession in points (46).
• Zach Parise buried two goals against the Flyers this season, to tack on to his career 47 points (25G, 22A) against the franchise.

FLYERS NOTES:

• The Flyers will host the Islanders on Monday in their first of a four-game homestand. Philadelphia is 10-12-2 on home ice and are winless in their last three games at home (0-2-1).
• Zack MacEwen underwent surgery after sustaining a broken jaw in a fight against Minnesota Wild's Marcus Foligno on Jan. 26. The 26-year-old forward is expected to miss five weeks in recovery.
• Kieffer Bellows scored his first goal of the season in Philadelphia's 4-0 shutout victory on Jan. 28. Bellows played 14 games with the Flyers this season and 11 games with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (3G, 6A). The Flyers claimed Bellows on waivers on Oct. 27 after he skated in one game with the Islanders in the season opener vs. the Florida Panthers.
• Kevin Hayes leads his team in assists (30) and is fresh off representing the Flyers at NHL All-Star Weekend. Hayes is on pace to shatter a handful of career-highs, as the 30-year-old forward is five points shy of a 50-point season.
• Travis Konecny leads his team in goals (24), which tie for a career best - matching his totals for the 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons - meaning his next goal will eclipse a career-high for the 25-year-old winger. Konecny is also the team-leader in points (49).
• Noah Cates is heating up for the Flyers, with five points (3G, 2A) in his last five games.
• After a subpar start to the season, Philadelphia has taken steps forward. The Flyers have a record of 14-11-4 following their season-long 10 game losing streak, which began on Nov. 10 and was snapped on Nov. 29. Philadelphia ended January on a high note, completing the month with an 8-4-2 record along with a .643 points percentage, tying the Toronto Maple Leafs for ninth-best in the league for January.