Prediction
Islanders 3, Rangers 1
Simply put, physicality and good goaltending will win the game for the Isles.
It always has, and always will.
The Blueshirts are battered, slightly more so than the Isles, with their captain Ryan McDonough out for the season and, now, Dan Girardi appearing as if he won’t suit up.
So, both teams are without a few important pieces of their teams, and both have, nevertheless, won two games in a row.
Coming off an insane come from behind victory of a historic Capitals on Tuesday proved the Islanders are heading full steam ahead into the postseason.
All season long, the Islanders are the blue-and-orange kryptonite for the Rangers, plain and simple.
In three previous games between the two sides, the Rangers have really only come near victory once.
Regardless of the outcome, Thursday’s brawl should be an epic matchup between the two New York squads with guts, grit, and a helluva playoff atmosphere at the Garden.
