Dale Weise not only scored his fourth goal in nine games for the Flyers on Thursday night, he also notched his first Gordie Howe hat trick as a Flyer.
Guess what? Wayne Simmonds got himself a Gordie, as well.
A goal, an assist and a fight.
Weise accomplished his in less than nine minutes as the Flyers kept their slim playoff hopes alive with a 6-3 victory over the New York Islanders at Wells Fargo Center.
The victory kept the Flyers (82 points) six points behind Boston in the wild card. However, the bad news: the Bruins, Lightning and Hurricanes -- all teams ahead of the Flyers in the wild-card chase -- won on Thursday.
The Flyers lose the first tiebreaker (wins in regulation) with every team ahead of them in the wild-card chase.
The Flyers tallied five goals from five different players in the first period. They then sat back in the second period as they were badly outshot and lost their momentum in the third as Steve Mason had to save them repeatedly.
Notable goals
Simmonds' goal that made it 5-0 was his 30th. He had 32 last season.
Goalie report
Credit Mason for keeping the game at 5-1 during the Flyers' second-period fiesta when they sat back and relaxed as the Isles outshot them, 22-3.
Power play
The Flyers scored on the second half of a double-minor (high-sticking) on Simmonds' 16th power-play goal. The Flyers were 1 for 2 on the PP.
Penalty kill
Not much work for the Flyers. The Isles were 0 for 2 on the power play.
Injuries
Shayne Gostisbehere's point drive ripped off Simmonds' right knee into the net. Simmonds hobbled to the bench. That made it 5-0.
Fights
Weise had a draw with Travis Hamonic. Simmonds won a decision over Anders Lee. There was a major scrum at the end of the second period but no fights.
Scratches
Forwards Roman Lyubimov (healthy), Michael Raffl (left knee) and Nick Cousins (concussion) and defenseman Nick Schultz (healthy).
Up next
The Flyers will practice Friday at 11 a.m. at Skate Zone and host the New Jersey Devils on Saturday night at Wells Fargo Center.