Isles make first ECF in 27 years

Thomas Greiss stopped 16 shots and the Islanders advanced to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 1993, beating the Flyers 4-0 in Game 7 of the secondround series Saturday night in Toronto.

Brock Nelson had a goal and two assists, and defensemen Scott Mayfield and Andy Greene scored 3:46 apart in the first period. Anthony Beauvillier had an empty-netter with 6:18 left and New York bounced back after failing to close out the series in losing the previous two games in overtime and advanced to face the Lightning.

Greiss, who picked up the Islanders’ final two wins of the series, posted his first career playoff shutout in his first Game 7. He was making his third appearance of the series, and second start, in place of Semyon Varlamov, who allowed nine goals on 63 shots in losing the last two games in overtime, including a 5-4 double-overtime loss in Game 6.

Without being specific, Islanders coach Barry Trotz noted players being injured when asked about his goaltenders during his pregame news conference.

The Flyers ran out of gas in a game they fell behind 3-0, which led to coach Alain Vigneault pulling Carter Hart for an extra attacker with seven minutes remaining. Hart stopped 22 shots.

The Islanders, who became the third team of the second round of the playoffs to win Game 7 after squandering a 3-1 series lead, face a short turnaround in having to travel to Edmonton, Alberta, to face the well-rested Lightning in a conference final series that opens Monday. It’s the third meeting between the two teams, with Tampa Bay winning the previous two in five games.

Some families allowed to join bubble

The NHL is allowing some family members to join the Edmonton playoff bubble but is waiting on the Canadian government on the possibility of adding more. Canadian family members of players, coaches and staff on the teams that reached the conference finals are free to enter the bubble as long as they adhere to quarantine regulations.