This was the third meeting between the New York Islanders and the Philadelphia Flyers in the month of March. The first two meeting did not go the Islanders way at all.
The Islanders were embarrassed on both occasions by the Flyers after being outscored by a combined score of 9-3. Without a goal in their last two games, the Islanders were hoping they could curb that trend.
Six a half minutes into the game, the Islanders allowed a tenth unanswered goal in three games as a puck shot wide by Robert Hagg bounces past Robin Lehner.