New York Islanders defenseman Marek Zidlicky (28), of the Czech Republic, defends New York Rangers center Dominic Moore (28) behind the Islanders net in the first period of an NHL hockey game at the Barclays Center in New York…
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The Islanders are 13-8-2 on the season and 8-4-2 at home while the Rangers are 17-6-1 overall and 6-3 on the road.
The first Rangers-Islanders matchup of the 2015-16 season also marked the Islanders’ second-ever home game against their long time rivals in New York City.
Mike Stobe/NHLI via Getty Images Rick Nash of the Rangers collides with Islanders’ Travis Hamonic in Wednesday night’s game. (More than a few Rangers fans wore red shirts with a “Brooklyn invasion” logo – a campaign that appears to have been in the works for months.) One of the few combined bursts of noise came in the third period, when it looked for a second like Dylan McIlrath and Matt Martin might drop the gloves.
The Rangers, 0-for-3 on the power play in the game, had a chance in overtime after the Islanders were caught with too many men on the ice at 1:12.
The Rangers are a Stanley Cup-contending team; the Islanders are much improved and continue to get better. “Boston-Montreal, Rangers-Islanders, the atmosphere is going to be great, the fans are going to support players on both sides”.
“We have to win these games, every point is huge in the standings and it’s so tight”, he added. Despite losing for the fourth time in five games (1-3-1), the Rangers left Barclays Center feeling positive about their performance. Geographic rivalries aren’t uncommon, but this one’s always had a little extra juice, with the Islanders’ suburban roots contrasting with the Rangers’ big-city identity. San Jose (14-9-0, 28 pts; 2nd in Pacific Division) won the previous meeting between the two teams on November 21 in Pittsburgh, as Patrick Marleau eclipsed the 1000-point mark for his career with two assists in a 3-1 win.
The game is crucial for the Rangers to build some momentum.
WINNIPEG, Manitoba – Drew Stafford scored a pair of first-period goals, pacing Winnipeg over Toronto. Marc Staal’s shot deflected to Viktor Stalberg, who sent a quick backhander through Halak to make it 1-1. The first took place at the January 29, 2014 Stadium Series game held at Yankee Stadium. I’ve played on both sides, so I know how it is.
“I think this will probably be the loudest the building has been up until this point, for sure”, Capuano said.
“I think, with the fans, there was still a lot of hatred in the stands”, Rangers defenseman Dan Girardi said.
“The second half of this game was just us kind of hanging on”, defenseman Dan Boyle told the team’s official website.
“He lost the puck a little bit, and couldn’t put it in”, said Halak. “For us, the coaches, the rooms are a lot bigger than the closet we had in the past.”… The Islanders scratched RW Steve Bernier and D Brian Strait…. He has eight goals this season and six in six games.
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After Isles winger Cal Clutterbuck talked Tuesday about there being “genuine hatred” between the teams, the Rangers added some muscle to their lineup by recalling veteran winger Tanner Glass from AHL Hartford to replace forward Emerson Etem (illness).
