The Flyers are back on the ice tonight and will try to avoid elimination yet again at the hands of the New York Islanders. It can be done, but when you’re down 3-1 after 4 games, it’s always an uphill battle.

The Flyers have forced a Game 7 when being down 3-1 in a series 6 out of 18 times. Most recently, they achieved this when they are were down 0-3 to Boston in 2010 and came back to win the series. The Flyers have won both of their games in overtime against the Islanders. In their history they have never lost a series when they have won two games in overtime in a single series, going 5-0.

Last game, the Flyers “put their big boy pants on” and got a much needed boost from captain Claude Giroux and JVR. This game, they’ll need more of the same plus an extra kick from their defense. The Flyers defense has factored into nine of the 11 goals in this series with 11 points (3g-8a) in the 5 games. 7 goals came from their blue line, which is tied for 4th in the playoffs. The Flyers are 6-1 in the postseason when they get a goal from a defenseman.

I got my money on the Flyers tonight and none other than Kevin Hayes. Hayes has posted 2 assists in his last 2 games and has 4 points (2g-2a) in his last 4 games of the series. He’ll definitely be on the ice and be given the opportunity to make things happen. He logged 23:25 of ice time in Game 5, nearly 3 full minutes more than the next forward.

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Mandatory Credit: Philadelphia Flyers