New York Islanders Continue Strong Play Against New York Rangers
The New York Islanders defeated the New York Rangers for the second time this season on Thursday night.
Final. 4. 106. 2. 95
The New York Islanders were able to pick up the victory over the New York Rangers on Thursday night, guaranteeing themselves at least a split of the season series. It will be the third consecutive season that the Islanders won’t lose the season series to their rivals. The loss also keeps the Rangers winless at Barclays Center all-time.
The Rangers got on the board first 6:23 into the game. Nick Holden netted his ninth goal of the season and was assisted by Mats Zuccarello and Brady Skjei. It was a momentum sustaining goal for the Rangers, who killed two penalties earlier in the period.
After that, the game was mostly dominated by the Islanders. They took control in the second period as Anders Lee scored his 22nd goal of the season just 2:43 into the period. John Tavares and Josh Bailey were credited with assists.
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It was not much later that the Islanders would take the lead which they wouldn’t relinquish the remainder of the game. Andrew Ladd scored his 13th goal of the season to give the Islanders a 2-1 lead, which was assisted by Stephen Gionta.
While the Islanders took the lead into the second intermission they set the Rangers up well to start the third period. Josh Bailey was called for a four-minute double minor for a high stick with just nine seconds remaining in the second period.
It set the Rangers up for a golden opportunity to tie the game up early in the third. But, it was the Islanders that would seize the momentum and turn the tide of the game. 3:03 into the third period Nikolay Kulemin scored a short-handed goal to give the Islanders a 3-1 lead. Tavares was credited with his second assist of the game.
Jimmy Vesey would score 43 seconds later on the power play. The goal was assisted by Rick Nash and Skjei. That was as close as the Rangers would get, as the Ladd netted his second goal of the game with 1:10 remaining, this time of the empty net variety after the Rangers pulled Henrik Lundqvist.
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With the victory the Islanders have moved within one point of the idle Toronto Maple Leafs for the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. They will look to pass the Maple Leafs this weekend with a home-and-home against the New Jersey Devils, another team looking to claw their way into the playoff picture.