3 Takeaways From Rangers’ 4-0 Win Over the Islanders – The Hockey Writers – New York Rangers

Last night, the New York Rangers faced off against the New York Islanders at Madison Square Garden in a rivalry matchup with playoff implications. Heading into the game, the Rangers trailed the Detroit Red Wings by two points in the race for the second wild card spot. Fresh off a 3-0 shutout win against the Nashville Predators the night before, they secured another dominant victory, shutting out the Islanders 4-0. With the win, the Rangers pulled even with the Red Wings at 66 points, though Detroit holds a game in hand.

Game Recap

The Rangers started the game slowly, spending much of the early first period hemmed in their own zone. However, they caught a break when Adam Pelech was sent to the penalty box for delay of game after clearing the puck over the glass. Despite the opportunity, the Rangers failed to convert on the power play—a unit that has struggled recently. Just seconds after their power play expired, they found themselves shorthanded after taking a too-many-men-on-the-ice penalty. The Rangers’ penalty kill successfully neutralized the Islanders’ power play, keeping the game scoreless.

Shortly after, Anders Lee slipped a soft shot past Igor Shesterkin, but the goal was overturned following a successful offside challenge by head coach Peter Laviolette. The disallowed goal shifted momentum in the Rangers’ favor. With under five minutes remaining in the period, Zac Jones fired a shot from the blue line that deflected off Kyle Palmieri’s stick and then off Will Cuylle’s helmet, resulting in Cuylle’s 17th goal of the season and a 1-0 Rangers lead. Later in the period, following another too-many-men penalty on the Rangers, Cuylle absorbed a hit and sent the puck forward to Sam Carrick, who found Will Borgen in the offensive zone. Borgen buried a shorthanded goal, giving the Rangers a 2-0 lead heading into the first intermission.

The second period remained scoreless, though the Rangers generated several high-danger chances, including a breakaway opportunity from Matt Rempe and Brett Berard, with Berard’s shot sailing wide. Both teams exchanged power plays—Bo Horvat took a delay of game penalty early in the period, and later, K’Andre Miller was called for holding as Brock Nelson broke free on a breakaway. Neither team managed to capitalize, and the Rangers carried their 2-0 lead into the final frame.

Related: 4 Takeaways From…