Flyers fall again, 7th straight loss

PHILADELPHIA » It might only be late November, but New York Islanders defenseman Nick Leddy knows that winning divisional series can go a long way toward making the Stanley Cup playoffs.

“It’s huge, it’s a couple extra points that they don’t get,” Leddy said after scoring 2:44 into overtime to give the Islanders a 5-4 overtime victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Friday, their second straight overtime win over their Metropolitan Divisional rivals.

“Every game is so tight with the Metro Division and we look at all the teams and they’re all so close, so every point is huge.”

Rookie Mathew Barzal, Cal Clutterbuck, Jordan Eberle and Andrew Ladd scored in regulation and Thomas Greiss made 26 saves to help the Islanders win for the fifth time in six games. They moved six points ahead of the Flyers in the Metropolitan Division standings.

John Tavares picked up an assist on Leddy’s goal. He also assisted on Josh Bailey’s overtime winner on Wednesday night in Brooklyn. The Islanders improved to 3-2 in OTs.

“I don’t think there’s a guy other than, maybe (Connor) McDavid, that I would take Johnny over,” Barzal said. “Obviously, he’s one of the most skilled players in the league. I think we’ve got a really skilled team up front. I’ll take us 3-on-3 against anybody.”

Claude Giroux, Wayne Simmonds, Shayne Gostisbehere and Sean Couturier scored in the second period for the Flyers. They blew a 4-2 lead in the third to lose for the seventh straight time.

Elliott made 32 saves for Philadelphia, which has not won a

TOM MIHALEK — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Philadelphia’s Valtteri Filppula, goalie Brian Elliott and Samuel Morin, all watch as the puck shot by the Islanders’ Matthew Barzal, heads into the net for a goal during the first period of Friday’s game.