Wahlstrom steps up in brawl

In the dying embers of a 5-2 Islanders blowout, Flyers forward Nicolas Deslauriers lit a spark that could carry over to Tuesday.

Taking exception to a clean hit on Alexander Romanov, Deslauriers retaliated on the defenseman, sparking a fullblown brawl with just over three minutes to go in the game. When all parties had been accounted for, Deslauriers and Scott Mayfield both had taken 10-minute game misconducts along with twominute roughing minors, Oliver Wahlstrom had pummeled Tony DeAngelo and the stage had been set for what suddenly becomes an interesting start to the rematch on Tuesday at Wells Fargo Center.

“It was a great hit by Rommy,” Zach Parise said. “And then [Deslauriers] came in, I guess to stand up for one of his guys. Started a little scuffle over there. And then a lot broke loose after that.”

Wahlstrom, winning his second bout in less than a week — the first against Rasmus Sandin in Toronto — was the star of the show, and is fast gaining a reputation for standing up for his teammates.

“I wasn’t even expecting it,” he said. “I just saw Rommy went down. Everyone kind of skated over to see if he was good and then [I] turn around and his gloves are in the air. I was like, ‘I got to protect myself.’ It’s part of the game.”

Coach Lane Lambert said he had no issue with the way the Flyers conducted themselves toward the end of the game, and as a team, the Islanders did not seem to take much exception once things had calmed down in the locker room after the fact.

That may lessen the chances of things spilling over into Tuesday, but it will be interesting to see whether Flyers coach John Tortorella starts Deslauriers or DeAngelo, and who Lambert has on the ice to start.

“No idea,” Wahlstrom said of that possibility. “It’s going to be a hockey game, both teams are going for two points.”

➤ Kyle Palmieri (upperbody) missed his third straight game and is still considered day-to-day.