UPDATE 11:30 AM EST
It turns out that Sergei Bobrovsky will get the start in goal again after all. Dwayne Roloson will be in goal for the Islanders. Lineups below are updated.
PREVIEW 10:30 AM EST
The Flyers (16-7-4) made things tough on themselves at times yesterday but put forth a decent effort in twice erasing deficits and then taking over the game in the third period of their 5-3 win at the Wells Fargo Center against the New Jersey Devils. Now the team has turn around, travel to Long Island and go right back at it in another weekend matinee. Today, Philly takes on the struggling New York Islanders (5-14-5).
The Flyers have won both games in the season series so far and have downed the Isles in 17 of their last 18 games. The first contest this season was an utter blowout (6-1), but most notable for the way the game got chippy and ultimately resulted in Danny Briere getting suspended for three games. In the third and final game of Briere's absence, the Flyers defeated the Islanders 2-1 in a much more closely contested game. Andreas Nodl scored the game-winner.
The Islanders have had trouble beating anybody lately, even after making a change behind the bench. The club is coming off a home-and-home sweep at the hands of the Rangers and has lost 16 of the last 17 overall after starting out the season well in early October. To be fair, the Islanders have been utterly devastated by injuries.
Kyle Okposo, who has yet to play after suffering a torn labrum in his shoulder during training camp and undergoing surgery, is skating again at practice but is not yet ready to return. The absence of Mark Streit (shoulder) has also made things tough. Also on IR are forward Trent Hunter (torn MCL) and defensemen Milan Jucina (hamstring), as well as Mike Mottau (eye). On top of it all, veteran forward Doug Weight (back spasms) and defenseman Bruno Gervais (broken cheekbone) are listed as day-to-day.
For the Flyers to continue their mastery of the Islanders, it will be important to jump on their opponent early and not give the Isles a sniff at hanging close in the game. Philly has been having problems in the first period of late, regularly having to dig themselves out of early deficits.
Special teams also remain a problem. The Flyers entered yesterday's game on a miserable 2-for-37 run (5.4%) over the previous eight games, and then went 0-for-3 against the Devils. In addition, Philly has given up opposition powerplay goals in each of the last two games after four games in a row of perfect penalty killing. The Devils tallied a pair of goals on the man advantage yesterday.
The Flyers have continued to play very well at even strength. Nevertheless, the club needs the Scott Hartnell - Danny Briere - Ville Leino line to get back to doing the things it did in the playoffs last year and for most of the first two months of the current season. Over the last five games, the trio has been so-so, and Peter Laviolette has experimented with some different combinations in the last couple games.
As usual, Laviolette would not immediately commit to naming a starter for today's game. It would seem as though Brian Boucher is in line for another start on the back end of consecutive day games.
PROJECTED LINES (subject to change)
FLYERS
JVR - Richards - Nodl
Hartnell - Briere - Leino
Zherdev/Powe - Giroux - Carter
Shelley - Betts - Powe/Zherdev
Pronger - Carle
Coburn - Timonen
Meszaros - O'Donnell
Bobrovsky
[Boucher]
ISLANDERS
Moulson - Tavares - Parenteau
Grabner - Nielsen - Joensuu
Comeau - Schremp - Sim
Martin - Konopka - Gillies
Eaton - Martinek
Wisniewski - Hamonic
Reese - Gervais
Roloson
[DiPietro]
*****
Today's
Daily Drop focuses on Kris Letang. The fourth-year defenseman has emerged as an early contender for the Norris Trophy.
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • 
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