Flyers outclassed by Islanders, 7-4

UNIONDALE, N.Y. — As the Nassau Coliseum has come alive again, with the hometown Islanders suddenly the class of the Metropolitan division, a new tradition has begun just in time for its swan song season.

After each Islander goal, fans chant "Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!" over and over again in unison.

No, contrary to popular belief, the Flyers did not get the day off in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.

And yes, it was an ugly afternoon, as the Flyers said goodbye to the NHL's oldest arena to not be renovated.

The Flyers were outclassed all over the ice - from forward to goaltender - from the moment the puck dropped on Monday afternoon, as they were pumped by the Islanders, 7-4, in a game that wasn't nearly as close as the score might indicate.

After 41 seasons, the Flyers closed their run at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum with a 54-55-15-3 record against the Islanders.

Since New York last won a playoff series in 1993, the Flyers were a sparkling 30-7-2 before this season at the "Mausoleum." On Long Island, they were the closest thing to a mortal lock in professional sports.

Those days seem about as far gone as Manhattan on a snowy day with the Long Island Expressway gridlocked.

If anything, Monday's beatdown was just another reminder that the Islanders are for real. After scoring twice in the opening eight minutes, they added another three goals on 20 (!!!!) shots in the second period alone. A helpless Rob Zepp gave way to Ray Emery after Josh Bailey's strike midway through the game.

The Flyers were almost lucky to be trailing, 5-2, heading into the third period. By the time the third period rolled around, the matinee crowd was chanting "We Want Seven!" They got it with Anders Lee's empty-netter with 63 seconds remaining.

With the win, the Islanders increased their lead in the Metropolitan division to five points over the Penguins, whom the Flyers will host on Tuesday night at Wells Fargo Center. Winning the division would be of the utmost importance for the Islanders. If the standings were to remain the same for the rest of the season, the Rangers and Penguins would be left to duke it out in the first round.

The Islanders may be moving to Brooklyn's Barclays Center next season, but they aren't going anywhere anytime soon. They are young, fast, deep and in a strong position with the salary cap.

Yes, that is a takeaway that made Monday afternoon tough to swallow for the Flyers. Two proud franchises with very different recent histories are heading in opposite directions.