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NEW YORK — For the last week http://www.ravensauthorizedshops.com/authentic-kenny-young-jersey , the New York Islanders received reminders of what could have been. But at least they won’t have to worry about watching another team celebrate clinching a playoff berth Tuesday night when they host the Philadelphia Flyers in the penultimate home game of the season at Barclays Center.

The Islanders continued their late-season collapse Saturday, falling to the New Jersey Devils 4-3. The Flyers moved closer to securing a playoff berth Sunday when they posted their second straight win by beating the Boston Bruins 4-3 in overtime.

The Flyers (40-25-14) could technically clinch no worse than an Eastern Conference wild-card berth Tuesday, though it would take a win over the Islanders and a loss by the Florida Panthers, whose game against the Nashville Predators starts half an hour after the Flyers face off against the Islanders.

The Panthers kept their faint playoff hopes alive Monday by beating the Carolina Hurricanes 3-2 to move within six points of the Flyers. Florida has four games left and Philadelphia has three games remaining.

“First goal on the list is to become a playoff team,” Flyers coach Dave Hakstol said. “We’re not there yet, we haven’t completed that yet. We’re just working toward the next two points.”

Points have been in increasingly short supply the last several weeks for the Islanders (32-37-10), who have lost eight of 10 (2-8-0) and 16 of their last 19 (3-12-4) to fall into last place in the Metropolitan Division.

New York lost twice on consecutive nights Friday and Saturday to the Toronto Maple Leafs, who are headed for the playoffs as one of the top three seeds in the Atlantic Division, and the Devils Adidas Anze Kopitar Jersey , who are in the driver’s seat for the second wild card.

“It just stinks knowing we’re not playing past this weekend,” Islanders center and captain John Tavares told Newsday after practice Monday afternoon. “We’re just trying to focus on the positives as much as you can and it’s the last week, so we want to go and play hard and play with a lot of pride and get some good results.”

Flyers goalie Petr Mrazek is expected to start against the Islanders’ Jaroslav Halak in a battle of teams with uncertain short- and long-term goaltending situations.

Mrazek has served as the closest thing the Flyers have had to a No. 1 goalie in the 25 games since Brian Elliott suffered a core muscle injury on Feb. 10.

Mrazek improved to 6-5-3 in that span with 36 saves Sunday. Elliott practiced Monday and is expected to play before the regular season ends this weekend so Philadelphia can get an idea if he can start in the playoffs.

Halak sat out the last two games, including Saturday, when he was scratched because of illness. He last started March 27 when he made 33 saves in the Islanders’ 4-3 victory over the Ottawa Senators.

While Halak has been the goalie of record in 32 of the Islanders’ 44 games since the Christmas break, he is a free agent at the end of the season and unlikely to return to New York, which is on pace to lead the NHL in goals allowed and has just one goalie, Thomas Greiss, under contract for next season.

Seven-on-seven drills.

Playbook run-throughs.

Pretending that everything is normal.

It’s all part of the New England Patriots getting ready for the regular season.

Three months after losing the Super Bowl to the Philadelphia Eagles Rashaad Penny Youth Jersey , the Patriots held their second organized team activity on Tuesday – without Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski.

Coach Bill Belichick declined to comment on the absence of two of his biggest stars, and their teammates claimed to be too focused on their own jobs to worry about who wasn’t there.

”It’s been really hard to get accustomed to a new team and learn everybody’s name,” rookie Danny Etling, a seventh-round draft choice who hopes to follow Brady as New England’s starting quarterback, said when asked if he had communicated with the three-time NFL MVP yet. ”I’m just really focused on getting to know everybody.”

Asked if he knew Brady’s name, Etling smiled.

”Yeah, I know Tom,” he said. ”He’s a pretty great quarterback, probably the greatest of all time.”

Tuesday’s practice was not mandatory Deadrin Senat Jersey Falcons , and Brady and Gronkowski were among more than a half-dozen other players who skipped it. Belichick said he would only comment on the players who were there.

Brady, who will turn 41 in training camp, was reportedly in the area with his personal guru and trainer instead of Gillette Stadium, and Gronkowski was said to have joined him.

Both players had quarreled with the Patriots this offseason over their contracts, with the Pro Bowl tight end dangling the possibility of retiring before informing the team last month that he will return.

Brady’s dissatisfaction reportedly stems from a below-market contract – two years, $41 million – and talk of speeding up the plan for Jimmy Garoppolo to succeed him as the starter. Garoppolo was traded to San Francisco, which gave him a contract that guarantees him more than $60 million in the first two years.

Brian Hoyer, who was brought in to be the backup, said Brady’s absence was not a distraction.

”I’m focused on myself. My teammates – we are all focused on getting better each day. That’s all we can do. I don’t think it’s a distraction in any way at all.”

Without Brady Authentic Orlando Brown Jr. Jersey , Hoyer got the chance to run drills with the starting unit on Tuesday and said it was beneficial.

”I look at it as a great opportunity to be out there, to be the guy who is in charge in the huddle, especially for quarterbacks, there’s nothing like being out there simulating plays against the defense,” he said. ”Even 10 years in, you’re always learning new things.”

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