GAMEDAY PREVIEW; Flyers vs Islanders where to watch, lineups and everything you need to know

The Philadelphia Flyers (10-7-1) are gearing up for a crucial clash with the New York Islanders (6-6-5) on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m., marking the second encounter in a challenging stretch of eight consecutive games against Metropolitan Division rivals.

With a victory at the UBS Arena, the Flyers aim to strengthen their grip on the second-place spot in the division. Philadelphia boasts an impressive 9-2-0 record when leading after the first period, topping the NHL in such victories. The Flyers are also tied for first in the league for first-period goals, notching 25 so far.

The Flyers face another back-to-back challenge this weekend, squaring off against the New York Rangers on Friday before revisiting Long Island for a rematch against the Islanders on Saturday.

Despite the Islanders holding an 8-2-0 record in their last 10 games against the Flyers, they find themselves struggling this season. Goaltender Ilya Sorokin has posted a 4-3-4 record with a .906 save percentage. Semyon Varlamov, the projected starter for Wednesday, boasts a 2-3-1 record with a .934 save percentage.

Carter Hart is set to start on Wednesday and will likely take one leg of the upcoming weekend back-to-back. As of now, there's uncertainty if prospect Felix Ersson will face the Islanders in his professional career debut this week.

While the Islanders grapple with inconsistency, the Flyers are the NHL's hottest team, boasting a five-game win streak�currently the longest active streak in the league.

Tyson Foerster � Sean Couturier � Travis Konecny
Owen Tippett � Scott Laughton � Cam Atkinson
Joel Farabee � Ryan Poehling � Bobby Brink
Nicolas Deslauriers � Noah Cates � Garnet Hathaway

Cam York � Travis Sanheim
Nick Seeler � Sean Walker
Marc Staal � Egor Zamula

-Sean Couturier ties Eric Desjardins for ninth-most games in Flyers history (738) with his appearance on Wednesday.
-Marc Staal returns to the lineup after a 14-game absence due to a rib injury.
-Bobby Brink, replacing Morgan Frost, made a notable impact by scoring in his return.

The Flyers' five-game win streak stands as their longest since the 2019-20 season, making them a force to be reckoned with in the league.

TV: NBC Sports Philadelphia

Stay tuned for a night of electrifying hockey action as the Flyers aim to extend their dominance and further solidify their playoff aspirations.

Source: Phillyhockeynow.com