Alexandar Georgiev’s first career shutout helps the New York Rangers top the Islanders in impressive fashion.
- New York Rangers 5 (12-8-2, 26 points)
- New York Islanders 0 (10-8-2, 22 points)
- NHL, Final, Box Score
- Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
The New York Rangers went into their matchup with the crosstown rival Islanders looking to extend one streak and break another—they were successful. On the shoulders of goalie Alexandar Georgiev, the Blueshirts beat their foes from Long Island by a commanding score of 5-0, bringing their win streak at Madison Square Garden to seven games and snapping their losing streak against the Isles at eight.
The Rangers got started right away when red-hot Filip Chytil scored just 29 seconds into the game to bring his goal streak to five games, the first teenager in Rangers history and 20th in NHL history to accomplish this feat. Then just three minutes later, Cody McLeod scored his first goal as a Ranger on a shot from Tony DeAngelo to make the score 2-0.
The Rangers had an early two-goal lead, very reminiscent of the game in Brooklyn on Thursday in which the Islanders came back to win 7-5. This time, Neal Pionk gave the Rangers a bigger cushion on the power play, blasting a slap shot past Isles goalie Robin Lehner to give the Blueshirts a 3-0 lead. Pionk now sits second in the NHL in power play points by a defenseman with 11.
The Islanders would put up more pressure in the last few minutes of the period, but Georgiev held them off the board to preserve the three-goal lead, only the third time the Rangers led at the end of the first period this season.
The second period was limited in action until about halfway through when McLeod dropped the gloves with Islanders heavyweight Ross Johnston. McLeod went to the locker room after the fight and was ruled out with a hand injury.
The Rangers would once again add to their lead with a little over two and a half minutes left. Kevin Hayes scored a beautiful backhand goal to make it 4-0 Rangers. Shortly after, Jordan Eberle had a wide open net after a blocked shot in front but sent the shot wide, preserving the four-goal deficit for the third period.
It was only the sixth time this season that the Rangers took a lead into the third period. The Rangers would add more insurance with under four minutes left when Chris Kreider scored to make it 5-0. Kreider leads the Rangers with 12 goals so far this season.
The score would remain 5-0 for the final as Georgiev put up a shutout with 29 saves, the Rangers first shutout of the season and the first shutout of Georgiev’s career.
This win extends the Rangers winning streak at Madison Square Garden to seven straight games and snaps their losing streak against the Islanders at eight. The Rangers last beat the Islanders on opening night of the 2016-17 season by a score of 5-3 on Oct. 13, 2016.
11 different Rangers put up points this game. Kreider, Mika Zibanejad and Kevin Shattenkirk were the only Rangers with multiple points. Ryan Strome, with a secondary assist on the McLeod goal, got his first point as a Ranger against the team that drafted him fifth overall in 2011.
The Rangers and Islanders will face each other again on Jan. 10 and 12, the final two times they will face each other this season barring a playoff series. Until then, both teams will be back in action on Friday when the Blueshirts head to Philadelphia to face the Flyers and the Isles faceoff against the Devils in Newark.
It took just 29 seconds for Chytil to extend his goal streak to 5!! CHYTILMANIA 5?
Stay tuned on @MSGNetworks pic.twitter.com/lAcxa0m3XB
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) November 22, 2018
Make it 3-0 #NYR!
It’s a power play goal for Pionk! pic.twitter.com/CRXaZzBNhk
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) November 22, 2018
HEY HEY HEY HEY HAYES!! 4-0 #NYR pic.twitter.com/wYrwkvE5YW
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) November 22, 2018
