#Islanders follow Andy Greene’s lead to Game 1 win over Flyers

The Islanders followed a gritty veteran defenseman to a 1-0 series lead in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Behind a seasoned performance from Andy Greene, whose first goal since joining the Islanders proved the game-winner, the Islanders took a 4-0 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday night at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.

Greene, whom the Islanders acquired from the Devils in February, was a disciplined force whose play was contagious. A captain in New Jersey for nearly five years, Greene played like a leader.

Along with his first-period goal, his first playoff tally since April 2010, Greene registered a team-high four blocked shots and two hits in the Islanders’ victory.

After defenseman Johnny Boychuk went down in Game 1 of the play-in series against the Florida Panthers, head coach Barry Trotz inserted Greene and has opted to keep him despite Boychuk’s recovery. Greene has even been tasked with playing on his off side, something he’s made look easily.

Flyers goaltender Carter Hart was the only reason the Islanders weren’t up by three or four goals after the first period. The Islanders held Philadelphia to just four shots on goal in the first, but a series of highlight-reel saves from the Flyers’ second-year netminder kept it a one-goal game.

Varlamov posted his second straight shutout, turning aside all 29 shots he faced.

The Islanders seemingly caught the Flyers off guard with their physicality and discipline. Frequently giving the puck away in their own zone and looking frazzled, the Flyers were on their heels from the start as the Islanders broke up any rush the Eastern Conference’s top seed could muster up.

Greene blasted the puck through traffic, and then through Hart, to lift the Islanders up 1-0 at 6:06 of the opening period.

The Flyers nearly got the equalizer shortly after as Kevin Hayes broke out on a breakaway, but Varlamov turned the puck aside. Greene then came up with a big block on a hard shot from Claude Giroux in front of the Islanders’ net at 13:22.

Hart robbed Brock Nelson on the Islanders’ best chance at doubling their score later in the first, gloving the puck on what looked like a wide-open shot on net. Matt Martin was denied by Hart on the doorstep shortly after.

The Flyers quickly woke up in the second period, registering the same amount of shots they did throughout the entire first period in the first 3 ½ minutes of the middle frame. Unable to get a shot off until over eight minutes in, the Islanders chased Philadelphia for much of the period.

But Varlamov stood tall as the Flyers pinned the Islanders in their defensive zone several times throughout the second, keeping Philadelphia off the board as they outshot the Isles 15-7.

The Islanders extended their lead early in the third period after strong play from Ross Johnston and Leo Komarov in the corner pushed the puck out to J-G Pageau in front of the Flyers’ net for the 2-0 score at 2:54.

A centering feed from Giroux was nearly tipped in by Bailey shortly after the Islanders’ second goal, but ricocheted off the post. Anders Lee gave the Islanders a 3-0 lead, burying a perfectly executed three-on-two rush with Jordan Eberle and Mathew Barzal at 8:50 of the third.

The Flyers pulled Carter Harter with 7:50 left in the game and a clear from Devon Toews ended up in the back of the net for the 4-0 score.