Islanders vs. Rangers Recap: Islanders Shutout Rangers in MSG
By Nick Ziegler
Islanders vs. Rangers Recap
The New York Islanders were able to defeat the rival New York Rangers on Tuesday night in MSG in a playoff-type atmosphere. The win moves the Islanders to 29-13-1 with 59 points, and for the Rangers, the loss moves them to 24-12-4 with 52 points. The Islanders are still in first place in the division, as they were able to pull off a great win against the hottest team in the NHL.
– Close but No Cigar
The first period was an exciting one in MSG, as both the Islanders and Rangers came out firing, and the crowd was clearly into this regular season matchup. In the first period no goals were scored, but there were plenty of opportunities for both teams.
The Islanders out-shot the Rangers 13-9, but the Rangers certainly had the better scoring opportunities. In the first period, the Rangers would have three shots hit the post, as Mats Zuccarello, Rick Nash, and Derick Brassard all saw shots hit the pipe, as the Islanders certainly caught a break in the period.
– Dominant Second Period
In the second period it was all the New York Islanders, as after they may have caught a few breaks in the first period, they would not let the Rangers get going at all. The Islanders would put 19 shots on Rangers’ goalie Henrik Lundqvist, and they would see a few in the back of the net.
The first goal of the period came from Anders Lee, as after a shot by Calvin de Haan, Lee who was parked in front of the net was able to knock it past Lundqvist for his 11th goal of the season. The second goal of the period would come from Nikolay Kulemin, who got a good look from the slot and ripped it past Lundqvist for the second goal of the period.
After a penalty to Travis Hamonic late in the period, the Rangers would go onto the power play with a chance to cut the lead in half, but instead the Islanders were able to extend their lead. Frans Nielsen would score a short-handed goal with less than one minute to go in the period. The short-handed goal was the Islanders’ seventh of the season, and it was the ninth goal of the season for Nielsen.
More from Empire Writes Back
- Caesars New York Promo Code: Win $250 Bonus GUARANTEED on ANY Bet!
- Last Chance Caesars Promo: Claim $1,250 Bonus for ANY MLB Bet!
- Caesars New York Promo Code Gives TWO Chances to Win Betting on Your Yankees!
- PointsBet New York Promo: FIVE $100 Bonus Bets to Back the Yankees or Mets!
- Caesars NY Promo: $1,250 Bonus to Celebrate the Return of Judge!
– Lundqvist Gets Pulled
After a poor second period for the Rangers, they would pull Lundqvist for Cam Talbot to start the third period. Lundqvist’s day would end with 29 saves on 32 chances. Talbot would play well in the third period, as he made 12 saves on 12 chances.
-Shutout for Halak
Islanders’ goalie Jaroslav Halak was very good in the Islanders’ victory, as he was able to record the shutout, which was his fourth of the season. On Tuesday, Halak made 27 saves on 27 chances, and as mentioned before caught a few lucky breaks in the first period on great looks for the Rangers. The shutout for Halak was the first time the Islanders shutout the Rangers in MSG since 1975.