Flyers top Islanders, gain ground on Rangers

With a win over one New York team, the Philadelphia Flyers got some momentum heading into a key matchup with another.

Robert Esche stopped 31 shots and four Philadelphia players scored in the visiting Flyers’ 4-1 win over the New York Islanders on Sunday.

Mike Knuble, R.J. Umberger, Jeff Carter and Sami Kapanen all scored for the Flyers, who are now two points behind the first-place New York Rangers in the Atlantic Division with eight regular-season games left for both teams.

The Flyers take on the Rangers on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden.

“We’ve played pretty well against them this year,” Esche said. “At this time of the year, every game can go one way or the other.”

Shawn Bates had the only goal for the Islanders, who have lost four straight and three in a row at home.

Mighty Ducks 6, Canucks 2: At Anaheim, Calif., Teemu Selanne and Samuel Pahlsson scored two goals apiece to lead the Mighty Ducks.

Anaheim moved four points behind fourth-place Nashville in the Western Conference. Vancouver remains in seventh place, one point ahead of the Oilers and four points ahead of the Kings and Sharks.

Red Wings 3, Wild 2: At St. Paul, Minn., Detroit’s top-ranked power play vastly outplayed Minnesota’s No. 1 penalty kill unit in the Red Wings’ victory over the Wild.

The Red Wings scored two power play goals in the second period, both assisted by Steve Yzerman, to get their 27th road victory of the season, one shy of the NHL record for road victories in a season. New Jersey set the record in 1998-99.

Devils 3, Penguins 2 (OT): At Pittsburgh, Brian Gionta scored with 2:38 left in overtime to help New Jersey beat the Penguins.

The Devils have won four in a row and five of their last six to take over sole possession of sixth place in the Eastern Conference.