There are matches, and then there are matches. At least according to Philadelphia's Kevin Hayes.
- All matches are important, but this was probably the most important match throughout the season. If you lose the first match, and the two subsequent matches are the days in a row, then match two is quite important, he says according to nhl.com after the victory against the New York Islanders.
It was therefore not surprising that the team stormed forward in the first period. Hayes himself made both 1-0 and 2-0 before Sean Couturier increased to 3-0.
But then the fun ended for a while. The Islanders also wanted to win the match. 3-0 was therefore 3-1 in the second period and 3-3 with only two minutes left.
- Of course we did not get the start we wanted. They stepped out and played well, we have to give them that, it's a good team. But I think we fought on and hung on in the match, says Islanders Jean-Gabriel Pageau, who scored the 2-3 goal.
The Islanders did not go further than the equalizer. Philippe Myers, whose shot hit Anders Lee's club and replaced goalkeeper Thomas Greiss, decided 2.41 into extra time.
But there was no question of any major celebration.
- They will go out hard tomorrow. We get to enjoy a short while and then just prepare for the next match, says Hayes.
The third quarterfinal meeting in the Stanley Cup playoffs will be played Friday night.