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.

NEW YORK — New York Islanders forward Maxim Tsyplakov was suspended for three games without pay on Friday for an illegal check to the head of Philadelphia Flyers forward Ryan Poehling.

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

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.

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.

- The Flyers stand in fifth place in the Metropolitan Division with 44 points, three points ahead of the Islanders (41 points), though New York has two games in-hand. - The Flyers picked up five of a possible six points in their last three games (2-0-1) after a six-game winless skid (0-5-1).

Following a questionable body check in a recent game, a New York Islanders forward is facing a mutl-game suspension. The NHL's Department of Player Safety asses

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 NHL suspended forward Maxim Tsyplakov of the New York Islanders three games Friday for delivering an illegal check in a game.