Islanders Take Round Two: Rangers Show More Fight, But Still Fall Short at MSG
On the second night of a back-to-back against their crosstown rivals, the New York Rangers came out looking to flip the script after a flat performance the night before. With a slightly tweaked lineup and Jonathan Quick between the pipes, the Blueshirts brought more edge and energy-but the result was all too familiar. The Islanders, behind a pair of timely goals and a lockdown third period, skated out of Madison Square Garden with another win in the season series.
Let’s break it down.
Lineup Tweaks and a Message Sent
The Rangers made a couple of changes heading into Game 2 of this back-to-back. Rookie Brett Berard stepped in for Jonny Brodzinski on the fourth line, while veteran netminder Jonathan Quick got the start over Spencer Martin. Mike Sullivan opened the game with his third line on the ice-a trio of rookies and journeymen-perhaps hoping to inject some early energy and give the youngsters a confidence boost.
Here’s how the Rangers lined up:
- Forwards: Miller-Zibanejad-Perreault Cuylle-Trocheck-Lafrenière Othmann-Laba-Raddysh Berard-Carrick-Rempe
- Defense: Gavrikov-Schneider Robertson-Borgen Vaakanainen-Morrow
- Goalies: Quick (starter) Martin (backup)
First Period: A Better Start, But No Finish
The Rangers brought a noticeably more physical presence to the ice in the opening frame. They controlled the dot, winning face-offs and establishing early zone time, but couldn’t turn that into meaningful offense. Both teams finished with six shots apiece, and the scoreboard remained untouched.
The only penalty of the period came with just 10 seconds left, when captain J.T. Miller was called for tripping Matthew Schaefer. It didn’t lead to anything, but it set the stage for a second period that would tilt in the Islanders’ favor.
Second Period: Islanders Strike, Crowd Turns
The middle frame felt like more of the same-lots of perimeter play, not a ton of high-danger chances. The Rangers outshot the Islanders, but as analyst Steve Valiquette pointed out, most of those looks came from low-value areas.
Then came the gut punch.
Late in the period, Carson Soucy found the back of the net for the first time as an Islander. It was a bit of a broken play: Quick went behind the net to play the puck, but the Rangers failed to clear.
Shabanov’s attempt ricocheted off the boards and landed right on Soucy’s stick in the circle. He wasted no time, beating Quick with a quick release and giving the Isles a 1-0 lead.
Moments later, the Garden crowd was stunned again-this time by the booming sound of a “Let’s go Islanders” chant echoing through the building. MSG hasn’t heard that kind of volume from the visiting fanbase in a long time, and even Rangers radio analyst Dave Maloney noted the unusual intensity of the moment.
Then came the dagger.
Rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer, already turning heads this season, added to his growing résumé. After Anders Lee cycled the puck back to Bo Horvat, Schaefer stepped up, took two strides, and ripped a wrist shot through traffic that beat Quick clean.
That goal put him in rare company-second all-time in goals by an 18-year-old defenseman, trailing only former Rangers coach Phil Housley and moving past Bobby Orr. That’s not a stat you hear every day.
Third Period: Zibanejad Makes History, But Islanders Close the Door
Early in the third, the Rangers got a power play opportunity after Ryan Pulock was called for boarding Perreault-a borderline call that initially had Jean-Gabriel Pageau headed to the box by mistake. On the ensuing man advantage, Zibanejad tried a set play, banking the puck off the end boards to J.T. Miller, but Ilya Sorokin was sharp and denied the chance.
Then came a spark.
Vincent Trocheck’s relentless forecheck forced a turnover, and Miller found Gavrikov at the point. Gavrikov slid it over to Zibanejad, who unloaded a signature one-timer that blew past Sorokin.
That goal wasn’t just a momentum shift-it was a milestone. Zibanejad’s 273rd as a Ranger moved him past Andy Bathgate for fifth all-time in franchise history.
A worthy moment for the Garden crowd to finally erupt.
The Rangers fed off the energy. Adam Laba hustled to beat out an icing call, drawing cheers from the crowd for his effort. It didn’t lead to a goal, but it was the kind of play that shows why he’s earning trust in key moments.
Then came a bizarre pause. The officials stopped play without explanation, and after a commercial break, Tony DeAngelo was seen in the penalty box for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Apparently, he had some words for the linesman that crossed the line. Islanders coach Patrick Roy gave a subtle nod from the bench-either in agreement or just acknowledging the chaos.
The Rangers couldn’t cash in on the power play, but they nearly caught a break when Sorokin mishandled the puck and nearly kicked it into his own net. It bounced away harmlessly, but it was a heart-stopping moment for the Islanders and a missed opportunity for the Rangers.
As the clock ticked down, the Blueshirts pushed hard. Morrow’s shot from the point was deflected, forcing Sorokin to make a tough save. Tensions boiled over midway through the period when Urho Vaakanainen and Marc Gatcomb got tangled up in front of Quick, each earning two for roughing.
The 4-on-4 play that followed put the Islanders’ speed and puck control on full display. Matt Barzal danced around the ice, controlling the tempo and keeping the Rangers chasing.
With just over a minute left, Quick headed to the bench for the extra attacker. The Rangers had a brief spell of possession, but the Islanders broke out. Anders Lee had a clear path to the empty net, but Trocheck held him just enough to prevent the goal-drawing a penalty with 18 seconds left.
The Rangers used their timeout to draw up one last play, but the Islanders won the face-off and shut the door for good.
Final Takeaway: Effort Better, But Execution Lags Behind
There’s no question the Rangers came out with more fire and physicality than the night before. They played harder, hit more, and fought for pucks. But when it came to finishing chances and breaking through the Islanders’ structured defense, they still fell short.
Mika Zibanejad’s milestone goal was a bright spot, and players like Trocheck and Laba showed grit and hustle. But the Islanders, with their speed, poise, and opportunistic scoring, once again proved to be a tough matchup for this Rangers lineup.
If the Blueshirts want to flip the script in this rivalry, they’ll need more than just effort-they’ll need execution, consistency, and someone to step up and take control when the game hangs in the balance.