Tuesday Morning Skate: Tristan’s terrible turnover, big emotions for ‘Big Z’

The Philadelphia Flyers didn’t make the postseason in a disappointing year, so fans can sit back and enjoy the playoffs. Flyers fans did just that on Monday night as the Pittsburgh Penguins fell in double overtime.

Welcome to the Morning Skate, our roundup of links on Philly Hockey Now as well as other sites around the National Hockey Now network and hockey world!

Flyers News

• The date and odds have been set for the 2021 NHL Draft Lottery. The Flyers have the 14th-best chance at the No. 1 pick. So you’re telling me there’s a chance… (Philly Hockey Now)

• Sam Morin thinks he’s one of the toughest guys in the league and wants to be the enforcer that the Flyers need. (Philly Hockey Now).

• The Flyers are entering an offseason of change with the expansion draft looming. On top of that, a core shakeup could be in the cards after a disappointing season. We look at five Flyers that may have played their last game in orange and black. (Philly Hockey Now)

• Alain Vigneault was talkin’ ’bout ‘practice in his end-of-season press conference. He also touched on a variety of other topics including Canadian restrictions, wanting a “normal season,” and feeling like he let “everyone down” this season. (Philly Hockey Now)

• Chuck Fletcher will be at the helm in this crucial offseason. He talked about the Flyers’ need to improve. He said that he’ll need to “be creative” as the Flyers can “upgrade everywhere” this offseason. (Philly Hockey Now)

Around the NHL

GIVEAWAY: Sorokin, Islanders Steal Game 5 in Double OT on Jarry Turnover – (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)

The Pittsburgh Penguins could have had mail delivered to the New York Islanders zone for nearly 60 minutes. Despite more than doubling New York’s shot total and greatly out-chancing New York, the Penguins lost another third-period lead, and the deafening PPG Paints Arena crowd had to wait for a conclusion.

And wait as one overtime wasn’t enough.

Less than one minute into the second OT, Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry turned the puck over in the slot to Josh Bailey who ended the game, gave New York a 3-2 series lead and New York will have a chance to eliminate the Penguins at the Nassau Coliseum on Wednesday.

Heist of the Century! Josh Bailey Helps Islanders Steal Game 5 Victory in Double OT – (NYI Hockey Now)

If Barry Trotz wasn’t aware of the Josh Bailey song before Game 4, the New York Islanders head coach will be more than familiar with it by the time the team’s flight lands back on Long Island.

Bailey played the hero on Monday night, along with Ilya Sorokin, delivering the game-winning goal 51 seconds into double overtime to give the Islanders a 3-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. In what can only be described as the heist of the century, the Islanders rallied from down 2-1 in the third period to take a 3-2 series lead back to Long Island with a chance to close things out on Wednesday at the Nassau Coliseum.

‘High Emotion’ For Boston Bruins With Chara In Handshake Line –  (Boston Hockey Now)

The Boston Bruins have experienced some high emotion handshake lines over the years in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

But nothing will probably ever touch the moments following Boston’s 3-1 win over the Washington Capitals in Game 5 on Sunday night. The Bruins were certainly elated at advancing past the Capitals to the second round of the playoffs, of course, but it also ended the season of their longtime captain Zdeno Chara now playing for Washington.

Sweep: ‘Yeah, it did,’ O’Reilly guarantee motivated Avs; What Lies Ahead – (Colorado Hockey Now)

I asked Avs captain Gabe Landeskog, after the Avs swept the Blues today, whether O’Reilly’s “We’re going to have some fun, and we’re going to beat them” pre-series quote motivated the Avs at all?

“Yeah, it did,” Landeskog said.

PHPA Executive Director on AHL’s Pacific Division Playoffs: “It’s a crock of s—.” – (San Jose Hockey Now)

The battle for the AHL’s Pacific Division hasn’t been waged just on the ice at FivePoint Arena over the last couple of days, it’s also been waged off the ice.

When the AHL revealed plans for a Pacific Division playoffs in late April — the only division hosting any type of post-season tournament — the reaction from the Professional Hockey Players’ Association was swift and to the point: The players did not want this tournament. For an AHL player, the PHPA is the equivalent of the NHLPA for an NHL player.

Florida Panthers starting Spencer Knight in goal vs. Lightning – (Florida Hockey Now)

When the postseason started, the Florida Panthers were not considering playing rookie goalie Spencer Knight against the Lightning. 

Things have most definitely changed.

Knight will be Florida’s starter Monday night in Game 5 after the Panthers’ tandem of Sergei Bobrovsky and Chris Dreidger have provided mixed results in the first four games.

Marc-Andre Fleury’s Early Case for Playoff MVP – (Vegas Hockey Now)

Marc-Andre Fleury is making an early case for why he should be the winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy, given to the playoff MVP every year. Fleury is joined by other candidates like Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, Victor Hedman and Nikita Kucherov from the Tampa Bay Lightning and Nathan MacKinnon from the Colorado Avalanche.

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Photo: Heather Barry Images