The Islanders had gone nearly three months without losing successive games in regulation, and more than six weeks owning at least a share of first place in the suddenly tightening Metropolitan Division.
Both of those impressive, if wholly unexpected, accomplishments fell by the wayside in Sunday’s ugly 4-1 loss to Philadelphia at the Coliseum. It notably marked the Isles’ second straight home defeat since the throaty night of catharsis for their fans and franchise on Thursday in John Tavares’ “We Don’t Need You” return to Long Island.