Alexis Lafrenière delivered the kind of night that can tilt a rivalry game on its head, piling up a hat trick and an assist as the Rangers topped the Islanders 5-2 on Tuesday night for their fourth straight victory.
Two of Lafrenière’s goals came into an empty net, but the damage was done long before the finish. New York kept rolling after its opening-night shutout loss in Boston, and the Rangers are now 3-0 at home after dropping their first seven at Madison Square Garden a year ago.
Mika Zibanejad set the table with three assists, while Igor Shesterkin stopped 17 shots to get the win. Shesterkin’s own little streak ended, though, as his point run from an assist Sunday and his goalie goal Thursday both stopped at two.
The Rangers barely had their legs under them early. They did not get a shot until 6:40 into the game, and the one that finally came belonged to Oliver Bjorkstrand, who buried it for his first goal with his new team. Bjorkstrand finished with two goals, and he and Lafrenière took advantage of an Islanders netminder still shaking off the rust.
Semyon Varlamov was back in an NHL game for the first time since Nov. 29, 2024, returning after double partial knee replacement surgeries. He was beaten for three goals on 22 shots.
The Islanders got goals from captain Bo Horvat and young forward Calum Ritchie, but they also watched reigning rookie-of-the-year defenseman Matthew Schaefer ring the post twice among his 12 shot attempts.
There was also a scare for Islanders forward Simon Holmstrom, who took a puck to the face late in the first period after a clearing attempt by Rangers defenseman Sean Durzi. Holmstrom came back in the second.
New York also got a look at Cole Beaudoin, who made his NHL debut for the Rangers. The 20-year-old center, acquired as part of the return in the July 1 trade that sent Vincent Trocheck to Utah, was recalled from the minors after Joe Veleno was injured against the Mammoth on Sunday.
The Islanders host the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday night, while the Rangers visit the Washington Capitals on Friday night.
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 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 🡒]
Islanders Blue Line Just Got A Prospect Fans Will Want To Track
The Islanders added another name to a blue-line pipeline that has been worth watching, signing defenseman Vladimir Dravecky to an entry-level deal after selecting him in the fifth round of the 2026 NHL Draft. Dravecky has spent time in the Ontario Hockey League and has also represented Czechia in international play, giving New York a prospect with both developmental runway and some higher-level experience already on his rsum.
Draveckys appeal goes beyond the usual long-view scouting report. He recently got into his first preseason NHL action, a useful checkpoint for a young defenseman trying to show he can keep pace, and former coach Jay McKee has pointed to his offensive instincts and intensity as part of what makes him interesting. The Islanders do not need to rush him, but they now have a better sense of the kind of player they may be able to bring along on the back end. [Read more 🡒]