The New York Islanders are in Philadelphia and need the points, both to stop their losing slide and reverse their post-deadline funk. The Bruins, who swept the Isles at the end of last week, beat the Capitals today to tighten the top four standings all the more.
As things stand before the Isles and Flyers face off, the Isles are in third, one point behind the Penguins (who mercifully lost to the Sabres), four points behind Washington and just two points ahead of fourth-place Boston.
For the Isles, just 12 games remain including tonight.