Desperate Flyers face hot Islanders team that just added two veteran forwards

The New York Islanders, tied with Washington atop the East Division, are all in.

The Isles, who will host the desperate Flyers on Thursday, were proactive Wednesday. They struck before Monday’s 3 p.m. trade deadline as they acquired right winger Kyle Palmieri and center Travis Zajac from the New Jersey Devils.

The Flyers, meanwhile, are stuck in neutral. They still could be buyers or sellers, depending on their results the next two or three games — Thursday on Long Island, Saturday against visiting Boston, and Sunday against visiting Buffalo. The first two games are key.

Based on where they are in the standings — five points behind Boston, which has the last playoff spot and has two games in hand on the Flyers — it appears GM Chuck Fletcher will be a seller. Or will make a trade (Nashville defenseman Ryan Ellis?) with next year in mind.

» READ MORE: Sloppy first periods have probably turned the Flyers into sellers | On the Fly

Palmieri and Zajac, impending unrestricted free agents, will play Thursday night against the Flyers. Islanders coach Barry Trotz raved about their versatility after Thursday’s morning skate.

The Isles sent their 2021 first-round draft pick, a conditional fourth-rounder in 2022, and unimpressive minor-league forwards A.J. Greer and Mason Jobst to New Jersey. Greer, 24, was a second-round pick in 2015, and Jobst, 27, has dismal AHL numbers.

The Devils retained 50 percent of both forwards salaries to make the deal, and Zajac waived his no-trade clause to make the trade possible.

The Islanders were looking for a scoring winger since Anders Lee is out with a season-ending knee injury, and general manager Lou Lamoriello reached out to his former organization. Palmieri should help, and Zajac will give them more depth up the middle.

The Islanders have thrived on their defense and goaltending, the Flyers’ biggest weaknesses this season. New York is allowing 2.28 goals per game, second in the NHL behind only Vegas (2.26). The Flyers are 30th in the 31-team league in goals allowed per game (3.55).

In five-on-five play, the Isles have outscored their opponents, 88-63. Conversely, the Flyers have been outscored, 96-75, in five-on-five play.

The Flyers are 3-1-2 against the Isles, with Claude Giroux (seven points) and Joel Farabee (four goals) leading the way. In 58 career games against New York, Giroux has 63 points (21 goals, 42 assists).

Anthony Beauvillier has four goals in just four games against the Flyers this season. Mathew Barzal has 22 points (7-15) in 17 career games vs. the Flyers, an average of 1.29 points per game.

Winners of four straight, the Islanders have points in 26 of their last 32 games (22-6-4) and are 17-4-1 in their last 22.

The Islanders have earned points in 18 of their 19 home games this season, tied for the most in club history through 19 games (16-1-2). They have outscored opponents, 72-38, on home ice.

The Flyers are going the other way. They are 7-11-2 since the start of March.

Goalie Carter Hart, who has lost his last five starts, will be in the nets, and Brian Elliott will play Saturday against Boston. ... Defenseman Robert Hagg, who has recovered from a shoulder injury, will replace Phil Myers in the lineup. ... James van Riemsdyk is goalless in his last 12 games and is minus-8 in that span. ... Scott Laughton is a team-best plus-8 on the season and is averaging 0.49 points per game. ... Jake Voracek is on a four-game scoring streak, with a goal and five assists. ... Ivan Provorov is eighth in the NHL with 25:11 of ice time per game. ... The Isles’ Matt Martin is the fifth active player to reach 3,000 career hits. Since making his NHL debut in 2009-10, Martin leads the NHL with 3,116 hits.