New York Rangers 1 (23-15-5, 51 pts)
New York Islanders 3 (24-16-5, 53 pts)
NHL, Final Game Box Score
Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY
Third Period:
Kyle Okposo collected an empty net goal with just over a second remaining. Isles win 3-1.
ISLANDERS WIN!! pic.twitter.com/bB3XmMfR8O
— SportsNet New York (@SNYtv) January 15, 2016
The remainder of the third period saw the Islanders just completely suffocate the Rangers offensive attack. One forechecker and four guys sagging on every rush.
Just moments later, Nick Leddy received a Tavares pass and beat Lundqvist to give the Islanders a furious 2-1 third period lead:
Ledpipe! 2-1 Isles pic.twitter.com/eBnN2rRvld
— connor (@ConIsles) January 15, 2016
The Islanders didn’t waste any time as Brock Nelson nets his 18th of the season, capitalizing on a terrible defensive zone play by Kevin Hayes:
1-1 game early in third after Brock Nelson capitalizes on a Kevin Hayes brain fart. #NYR #Isles pic.twitter.com/ajTgWgJeAb
— Elite Sports NY (@EliteSportsNY) January 15, 2016
Second Period:
The McIlrath-Martin dance continues. Although they were ready to go after dropping the gloves, the officials wouldn’t let them fight. 1-0 Rangers after two periods of play.
On a brilliant wrap around pass by Kevin Hayes, Marc Staal deflects one past Halak to make it 1-0 Rangers:
Marc Staal breaks the ice for the Blueshirts – what a play by Kevin Hayes. #NYR #Isles pic.twitter.com/sHilP3Xppw
— Elite Sports NY (@EliteSportsNY) January 15, 2016
McDonagh skates in from top left circle, Halak kicks out right pad and still scoreless under three to play in second.
— Andrew Gross (@AGrossRecord) January 15, 2016
This game is turning out to be a beauty. Both teams are skating, hitting and flowing. It’s one of the more physical, fast-paced regular season contests you’ll ever lay eyes on.
McIlrath got a nice piece of Clutterbuck on this one along the boards:
Fear the Rath. #NYR pic.twitter.com/aRgaMDX5NX
— Bryan Wojtanik (@BryanWojtanik) January 15, 2016
After killing off the remainder of the Dominic Moore penalty, the Rangers were rewarded with a powerplay thanks to an Islanders too-many-men call. Chris Kreider nearly broke the tie but hit the post off a rebound that saw him all alone:
CK20 can’t buy a goal. #NYR pic.twitter.com/nxQLOvroPM
— Bryan Wojtanik (@BryanWojtanik) January 15, 2016
First Period:
Scary moment for Adam Pelech on that Stepan chance:
Here’s that skate to Pelech’s face. Scary. pic.twitter.com/SVDL6GgDOe
— Dave Shapiro (@BlueSeatBlogs) January 15, 2016
Tavares heads to the bench in thriving pain after taking a puck to the leg:
Like a sack of potatoes, am I right @ConIsles ?? pic.twitter.com/wGxNM2mvIH
— Bryan Wojtanik (@BryanWojtanik) January 15, 2016
Still scoreless with just over five minutes to go in the opening period.
Derek Stepan found himself almost all alone in front of Halak. Couldn’t maintain the handle:
Step…so close #NYR pic.twitter.com/uvqTn4WNZh
— Bryan Wojtanik (@BryanWojtanik) January 15, 2016
Lundqvist keeps it scoreless:
DENIED by @HLundqvist30 #NYR pic.twitter.com/MBzYMOB2OW
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) January 15, 2016
Halak just robbed Nash as he was being contested by the Isles in traffic.
The Rangers power play produces a hit post on a possible Rich Nash deflection from the point.
Rangers have a Power Play just over six minutes into the game. Cal Clutterbuck hit Chris Kreider from behind and late. Dylan McIlrath and Matt Martin both picked up additional roughing minors as well after the play. Things are heating up.
Tanner Glass made his presence felt very early on with this hit behind Jaroslav Halak:
HARD HITTING START: Tanner Glass makes his presence felt early. #NYR #NYI pic.twitter.com/7y9qyUDUad
— Elite Sports NY (@EliteSportsNY) January 15, 2016
RT if you’re with the @NYIslanders for tonight’s clash and you could win a team signed stick! #ISLESonMSG pic.twitter.com/1pkbSvHWug
— MSG Networks (@MSGNetworks) January 14, 2016
W2W4: THIS is rivalry night! #NYR face off with Islanders in Brooklyn tonight; game primer: https://t.co/uaTmsh1fQv pic.twitter.com/cs7hpdAnca
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) January 14, 2016
Catch all the #Isles-Rangers rivalry night action on MSG+ at 7 pm. Let’s go Islanders! pic.twitter.com/BFWweGuozN
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) January 14, 2016
Follow along with ESNY all night as we take you from first puck drop to final horn as the New York Rangers invade Brooklyn to take on the New York Islanders.
New York Rangers (23-14-5, 51 pts)
New York Islanders (23-15-5, 51 pts)
NHL, Today, 7:00 PM on MSG, MSG+, TVA
Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York
Very rarely could you call a January regular season NHL game an important one. These squads play 82 ridiculous games during the season, and quite honestly the Stanley Cup Playoffs don’t ever get determined by which team was hottest at the turn of the new year.
In the Big Apple tonight, however, something special is brewing.
The New York Rangers (23-15-5) will head into enemy territory (Brooklyn) to take on the New York Islanders (23-16-5). Both teams have an identical mark of 51 points, looking way up at the Washington Capitals in the Metropolitan division.
While they sit tied for second place – not such a terrible spot – they remain only four points ahead of the other local team, the New Jersey Devils.
John Tavares’s squad got the better of Henrik Lundqvist’s team the first and only time they met earlier this season (2-1 OT victory at Barclays Center). Only time will tell what round two brings.
