PHILADELPHIA — Even the Broad Street Bullies weren’t as resilient as this group of Flyers.
Michael Raffl scored the go-ahead goal with 4:15 left, and the Flyers rallied to beat the Islanders 6-4 on Saturday night for the ninth comeback win of the season.
Brock Nelson, Brian Strait, John Tavares and Cal Clutterbuck scored for the Islanders, who led 4-3 after the second period before allowing three third-period goals. The Isles had won eight of nine on the road and five of six overall.
“This one stings,” Tavares said. “It’s disappointing, especially with the way we played in the first two periods. We’ve got to bounce back.”
Jakub Voracek scored for the Flyers with 12:46 left in the third to tie the score at 4-4.
Matt Read added an empty-net goal in the final minute for the final score.
“I thought we did some really good things through two,” Islanders defenseman Andrew MacDonald said. “We just didn’t generate anything in the third, and we just can’t have these lapses. We’re playing well as of late, and these things can’t keep re-occurring.”
On the day he signed a $12.3 million, three-year contract extension, Flyers goalie Steve Mason was yanked from the game after allowing four goals on 24 shots.
Ray Emery stopped the five shots he faced to earn the win in relief.
On the game-winner, Raffl fired a shot past goalie Kevin Poulin after a backhanded, drop pass from Giroux to make it 5-4. Read added an empty-net goal.
The Flyers had tied it when Voracek ripped a one-timer from the high slot past Poulin. Giroux also set that up with a perfect, backhanded pass.
“We played a really good third period,” Flyers coach Craig Berube said. “We came out, got the puck in deep, and worked them down low, but the first two periods were inexcusable.”