The Islanders came out swinging and never looked back in a commanding 5-2 win over the Rangers at UBS Arena, kicking off the home-and-home series in style. From the opening faceoff, this one had the feel of a statement game - and the Isles delivered it loud and clear.
With the Olympic trade freeze looming, both teams are in very different places. The Islanders made their intentions known by adding veterans Ondrej Palat and Carson Soucy, both of whom made their presence felt. Meanwhile, the Rangers are navigating a more uncertain path, putting Artemi Panarin on the trade block and holding him out of this game - and likely the next - as they lean into a retooling phase.
Panarin’s absence was noticeable, but it was the Islanders' energy and execution that really set the tone. Palat wasted no time making an impact in his debut, notching a power play goal and adding a secondary assist to earn first star honors. He looked like a natural fit in the Islanders' system, blending seamlessly into a team that played with pace and purpose.
Simon Holmstrom, Mat Barzal, JG Pageau, and Emil Heineman also found the back of the net for the Isles, who could’ve easily run up the score even more - they clanged a few posts and generated quality chances all night. The UBS Arena crowd had plenty to cheer about, and the Islanders gave them a performance worth the price of admission.
Despite the final score, Rangers goalie Spencer Martin did his best to keep things close early. The Isles were buzzing from the start, dominating shot attempts and zone time, but Martin stood tall until the dam finally broke.
And of course, what’s an Isles-Rangers game without a little edge? Vincent Trocheck collided with Islanders netminder David Rittich and got a few extra shoves from his former teammate Carson Soucy for his troubles.
Matthew Schaefer added to the physicality with a heavy hit on Brennan Othmann along the boards. The rivalry heat was alive and well.
The officials had their hands full, too. Alexis Lafreniere was called for slashing Mat Barzal - snapping his stick in the process - though the stick may have already been on its last leg. In a bit of a makeup call, Bo Horvat was whistled for interference just nine seconds later after flipping Mika Zibanejad’s stick into the air and over the glass, setting up some 4-on-4 action.
That sequence opened the door for Holmstrom to draw a slashing penalty on Trocheck, giving the Islanders a 4-on-3 advantage. Will Cuylle nearly sprung JT Miller for a shorthanded chance, but Miller couldn’t handle the puck cleanly - and the Isles made them pay.
Palat cashed in on the power play, with Holmstrom and Schaefer picking up assists. Just over a minute later, Tony DeAngelo threaded a perfect pass to Holmstrom at the back door to make it 2-0.
The Rangers got one back when Zibanejad finished off a setup from Miller following a Drouin high-sticking penalty, but the Islanders weren’t done.
Casey Cizikas took a scary-looking knee to the back from Matt Rempe after crashing into the boards, but he managed to skate off under his own power and returned to the bench - a welcome sight for Islanders fans.
Later, the Isles drew three penalties on a single shift - two on Sam Carrick (tripping and cross-checking) and one on Rempe (boarding) - giving them a lengthy 5-on-3 and extended 6-on-5 time. They didn’t score immediately, but the pressure was relentless.
Barzal eventually broke through with a power play goal on a slick feed from Holmstrom, who was everywhere in this one. That made it 3-1, and less than a minute later, Pageau pounced on a rebound from a Marc Gatcomb shot to extend the lead to 4-1.
The Rangers briefly clawed one back when Taylor Raddysh scored, but Emil Heineman answered just before the end of the second period, ripping a shot past Martin to make it 5-2 and restore the three-goal cushion.
The third period didn’t bring any more scoring, but the Islanders stayed sharp. Jonathan Drouin had a chance deflected by Braden Schneider, and after Horvat took a tripping penalty, the Isles penalty kill held strong. DeAngelo hit iron late, another near-miss on a night full of them for the home team.
In the end, the Islanders closed it out with authority, earning their third win over the Rangers this season and setting up a tantalizing rematch at Madison Square Garden.
What’s Next
The rivalry shifts across the East River tomorrow night, with the Islanders heading to MSG for the second half of the back-to-back. Expect a goaltending duel between Ilya Sorokin and Igor Shesterkin - and if the Isles can pull off another win, they’ll complete a clean 4-0 sweep of the Rangers this season. Buckle up.