Islanders continue to slide with 4-1 loss to Flyers

Kathy Willens/AP

The Islanders continue to stumble their way down the stretch.

The race just to make the playoffs incredibly and fully is on now for the slipping Islanders.

Their sudden tumble back to the pack in the Eastern Conference has enabled the Flyers to surge within legitimate striking distance with less than three weeks remaining in the regular season.

The Isles had played only two of 14 games since Feb. 19 in Brooklyn before returning Monday night to drop a critical 4-1 decision to Philadelphia at a quieted Barclays Center.

Following a strong start to their five-week journey — with six wins in seven stops and then a solid home victory over Pittsburgh on March 8 – the flat Isles have hit the skids with just 11 goals and a 1-4-2 record over their past seven games.

Meanwhile, the resurgent Flyers’ 9-2-1 record in their past dozen contests has vaulted them within three points (85-82) of Jack Capuano’s team for what appears increasingly likely will be the final playoff berth in the East.

“We will find our way here…It’s good to be back home and hopefully we can gain that touch,” Capuano said before Monday’s game. “We have to try and find some offense if we are going to win games.

“I can’t put my finger on it to be honest with you. We’ve always been a good offensive team.”

Including another home tilt on Wednesday against Ottawa, the Isles (38-24-9) will play seven of their final 11 in Brooklyn, where they are 21-9-4 in their first season since leaving Nassau Coliseum.

Mike Stobe/NHLI via Getty Images

Shayne Gostisbehere fires a shot on goal for the Flyers as they continue their hot streak with a 4-1 win over the Islanders.

Still, the Isles’ untimely slide has dropped them behind both Pittsburgh and the Rangers into fourth place in the Metropolitan Division — and closer in points to Philly than to the Rangers in the playoff pecking order.

“We have to keep doing what we’re doing,” Flyers captain Claude Giroux said. “I think if we take care of our games, we will be in a position to make the playoffs.”

Isles captain John Tavares played his 500th NHL game on Monday, calling it “definitely something to be proud of.”

His team’s performance was something far short of that.

Nick Cousins opened the scoring with a deflection past Thomas Greiss 2:34 into the second period, but Kyle Okposo tied it 80 seconds later with a rebound stuffer under Steve Mason for his 20th goal of the season.

But seconds after the Flyers thwarted an Islander power play, Brandon Manning emerged from the penalty box and collected a clearance attempt — that was slowed after striking a linesman — before ripping a left-circle wrister over Greiss’ shoulder for his first NHL goal at 13:01.

Sam Gagner outmuscled Thomas Hickey for a loose puck in the crease for a 3-1 game 4:22 into the third, and Giroux added the empty-netter in the final minute.

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