The New York Islanders walked into Madison Square Garden with a recent edge in the Battle for New York, but Game 1 of the 2026-27 season looked nothing like the lopsided meetings they enjoyed a year ago.
After sweeping the New York Rangers 4-0 last season and outscoring them 14-3, the Islanders found themselves in a much tighter fight this time. The opener was competitive from start to finish, but the blue and orange left with a 5-2 loss that was closer than the final number suggested.
A pair of empty-net goals in the closing minutes pushed the score out of reach, and Alexis Lafreniere finished the night with a hat trick after scoring both of those late goals. He also had the assist on Oliver Bjorkstrand’s first goal, giving Lafreniere a four-point performance and his third career hat trick.
Bjorkstrand scored twice for the Rangers, including the game’s second goal, which put the Islanders in an early hole. But New York answered in the second period. Bo Horvat and Cal Ritchie each scored to pull the Islanders even at 2-2.
That was as far as they could get against Igor Shesterkin. The Islanders generated quality chances and had the puck beat the goaltender more than once, only to be denied by the post three times. Matthew Schaefer and Ondrej Palat were among the players who came closest to changing the game with a bounce that never came.
With the score still tied late, head coach Peter DeBoer pulled his goalie in search of a go-ahead push, but the Islanders couldn’t create anything dangerous. Lafreniere then added the finishing touches with two empty-netters that made the result look more one-sided than the game actually was.
There was at least one encouraging note for the Islanders. Semyon Varlamov got through the night healthy in his first start in nearly two years after undergoing partial replacement of both knees. He stopped 19 of 22 shots.
The Islanders would have wanted a win for him in his return, but just seeing Varlamov back in goal and back with his teammates was a meaningful moment after the long layoff.
In Other News...
Islanders Already Face A Romanov Concern They Couldn't Afford
Alexander Romanovs night ended early Tuesday against the Rangers, and for an Islanders team already trying to steady its blue line, that is the kind of development it could not have welcomed. Romanov exited with an apparent injury and was not back on the ice for the final stretch of the game, leaving New York to finish without one of its more important defensemen.
Pete DeBoer said Romanov is still being evaluated, which leaves the Islanders in wait-and-see mode for now. If the injury lingers, it would add another layer of difficulty to a defensive group that can ill afford to lose a regular presence for any length of time. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders' Rangers Loss Exposed A Problem Fans Were Dreading
Semyon Varlamovs return was one of the few encouraging developments in a rough night for the Islanders, even if it came in a loss to the Rangers that underscored how much work still remains. The veteran goalie was back in the crease after knee surgeries, stepping into a charged rivalry game and facing a steady Rangers attack that kept New York under pressure from the opening shift.
Alexis Lafrenire led the way for the Rangers with a big night, while Oliver Bjorkstrand added two goals and Mika Zibanejad piled up three assists as the visitors pulled away and stretched their winning streak to four. For the Islanders, the result was less about the score line than the reminder that simply getting Varlamov back is only one piece of a much larger problem they still have to solve. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders Suddenly Have A Blue Line Concern After Rivalry Loss
The Islanders left their rivalry loss with more than just a setback in the standings, because two regulars came out banged up and the blue line suddenly looks a little thinner. Simon Holmstrom was forced out after taking a hit to the face, and while the concern is a broken nose, the early expectation is that he will keep playing and stay in his third-line role.
Alexander Romanovs exit is the more pressing issue for the back end. The defenseman left with a leg injury, and coach Pete DeBoer did not offer a postgame update, leaving the Islanders to sort through what it could mean for the defensive rotation if Romanov needs time. [Read more 🡒]