Recap: Flyers 4, Islanders 1

The New York Islanders fell to the Philadelphia Flyers 4-1 on Sunday and in the process were dethroned from the top of the Metropolitan Division standings.
Adam Pelech broke Brian Elliott's shutout bid with 4:45 to play, but by that point Travis Konecny, Travis Sanheim, Scott Laughton and Sean Couturier had built a 4-0 lead for the Flyers. The loss was the Islanders second straight in regulation, marking the first time since Dec. 4-6 the Isles suffered back-to-back regulation defeats. The Islanders (81 points) were leapfrogged by the Washington Capitals (83 points) for the division lead and are currently 1-3-0 on their five-game homestand.
"This is the time of the season where you have to get points, teams are climbing in the standings and the Metro is as close as it's going to be," Jordan Eberle said. "It just seems like everyone is winning and we need to keep pace. We've put up a bit of leeway, but it's gone now. We have to find a way to get two points."
BOXSCORE | LEE POSTGAME

Tweet from @NYIslanders: "We have to keep pace. The biggest game is the next one. We need to find a way to get two points." @jeberle\_7 pic.twitter.com/OgAFJuC892

ISLES FALL BEHIND EARLY, CHASE FLYERS:

Sunday was a strange game for the usually stingy Islanders. They didn't give the Flyers a ton of scoring chances early, but the ones they gave up were top tier and found the back of the net.
The Flyers penetrated the Isles defensive structure and found lanes to the net early, with Konecny driving wide and cutting across before roofing a short side shot past Robin Lehner (10 saves) at 8:21, while Samheim outmuscled Anthony Beauvillier in the slot before burying a loose puck to make it 2-0 at 14:59. Laughton drove hard to the net and knocked a rebound past Lehner at 3:18 of the second, causing Barry Trotz to change his goalies. Thomas Greiss stopped 12-of-13 shots in relief.
"We were off tonight from the get-go," captain Anders Lee said. "We tried to stay in it, we tried to battle back, but a four-goal deficit is tough. We have our backs against the wall a bit here, it's a tough stretch, we just have to find a way to stick together, have each other's backs and continue to move forward. This is a bad time to lose hockey games, but we have no choice but to rally."
The goalie change was a spark, but the Islanders couldn't find a way to break through. Eberle was robbed by lunging Brian Elliott (29 saves) on a Ryan Pulock rebound and his attempted bank shot off the Flyers goalie was stopped in the crease. A friendly bounce off the stanchion popped out to an open Brock Nelson in front, but the Isles forward missed wide. Johnny Boychuk hit a post on an ensuing shift.
"It's extremely frustrating when you feel like you're creating chances and the puck isn't going in the net and then they get one and it's in the back of our net," Eberle said.
Instead of closing the gap, the Isles fell further behind, as Oskar Lindblom's pass to the front of the net deflected off Couturier to make it 4-0 at 15:14 of the second. As the frustration boiled over Jordan Eberle dropped the gloves with Konency for his second-career fight. Adam Pelech touched an Andrew Ladd rebound through Elliott's five-hole with 4:45 to play to end the shutout bid.

ISLES FALL OUT OF FIRST PLACE:

The Islanders time atop the Metropolitan Division was not as fleeting as Barry Trotz suggested it might be a month and a half ago, but it did end on Sunday.
The Washington Capitals (83 points) leapfrogged the Isles with a 3-2 shootout win over the New York Rangers Sunday afternoon. The Islanders still hold a game in hand on the Capitals.
"Right now we have to grind through stuff," Trotz said. "We're playing very good hockey teams, teams that are desperate. We are going to have to grind through it."

CLUTTERBUCK LEAVES GAME:

Cal Clutterbuck (upper body) left Sunday's game in the second period after taking a puck to the ear while sitting on the bench. Casey Cizikas came out of the game early with flu-like symptoms, according to Trotz.

MARTIN MISSES SECOND STRAIGHT GAME:

Matt Martin missed his second straight game with an upper-body injury. He is considered day-to-day.

NEXT GAME:

The Islanders wrap up a five-game Coliseum homestand on Tuesday night against the Ottawa Senators. Puck drop is at 7 p.m.