On Friday, the NHL’s Department of Player Safety announced it has suspended New York Islanders forward Max Tsyplakov for three games for his illegal check to the head of Flyers forward Ryan Poehling on Thursday night. The third game of his suspension is a rematch between the Flyers and Islanders at UBS Arena.

John Tortorella's Philadelphia Flyers (19-20-6) are in Elmont on Thursday evening to take on Patrick Roy's New York Islanders (17-19-7).

Islanders rookie Maxim Tsyplakov had a target on his back after delivering a hard shoulder check on Poehling, who left the game.

This is what it looks like when the season slips away in January. A disastrous second period, a total squandering of momentum, a team that played most of the night as though nobody was on the same page and a home crowd that sounded more disappointed than upset.

Sean Couturier, Garnet Hathaway and Morgan Frost scored in the second period Thursday night for the Philadelphia Flyers, who beat the New York Islanders 5-3 in Elmont, N.Y.

After administering a direct shot to the head of Philadelphia Flyers center Ryan Poehling, New York Islanders forward Maxim Tsyplakov is scheduled for a hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety on Friday.

New York Islanders forward Maxim Tsyplakov faces a possible suspension after delivering a high hit to Philadelphia Flyers center Ryan Poehling on Thursday night.

The Philadelphia Flyers (20-20-6) took full advantage of a hapless New York Islanders (16-19-7) second period to surge to a 5-3 win in UBS Arena on Thursday night.

New York Islanders forward Maxim Tsyplakov has been suspended for three games without pay for an illegal check to the head of Philadelphia Flyers forward Ryan Poehling.

John Tortorella's Philadelphia Flyers (20-20-6) are in Newark on Saturday afternoon to take on Sheldon Keefe's New Jersey Devils (26-15-6).

- The Sharks are in eighth place in the Pacific Division with 34 points and a record of 14-27-6. San Jose is 1-4-0 in their last five games. - Mikael Granlund leads the Sharks in assists (25) and points (37) in his second season with San Jose.