Islanders lose again to Flyers

It was only a matter of time and they knew it.

The Islanders lost to the Flyers, 4-1, last night at Nassau Coliseum and were officially eliminated from playoff contention.

Flyers 21-year-old forward James Van Riemsdyk scored his first career hat trick as the Flyers beat the Islanders for the 20th time in the last 21 games and remained in first place in the Eastern Conference.

"We definitely owe them one for sure," said goaltender Rick DiPietro (18 saves), who gave up four goals in his second start after missing six weeks with facial injuries.

Trailing the eighth-place Buffalo Sabres by 13 points heading into the game, it was a must-win for the Islanders to keep even the slimmest playoff hopes alive. Several players said they were not aware of the exact elimination scenarios, but knew they had very little wriggle room.

"It's been do or die for us for awhile," center Josh Bailey said.

It is the fourth straight year the Islanders will miss the playoffs.

"I hate to lose, whether we're in the playoffs or out," DiPietro said. "It still makes me sick to my stomach."

With only one win in the previous 20 games against the Flyers, the Islanders fell behind early.

Philadelphia scored twice within 22 seconds midway through the first period to take a 2-0 lead.

After Islander-killer Jeff Carter scored his 34th of the season right off the draw at 8:11, Van Riemsdyk netted his first of the night on a rush at 8:33.

Blake Comeau cut the Flyers' lead in half with a backhander midway through the first, but Van Riemsdyk put another one past DiPietro at 13:25.

Riemsdyk's third goal -- which resulted in a surprising amount of hats thrown on the ice for a road game -- was a slap shot from the slot at 9:15 in the third, the Flyers' first power-play goal in six games.

Officially done? Yes. But according to Matt Moulson, they won't stop fighting until the season is over.

"Eliminated or not, we still have a lot to prove, a lot to play for."