Recap: Rangers Continue to Fall, Lose 2-1 to Islanders

On the second night of back-to-back games against their rival, the New York Islanders, the New York Rangers aim to improve on yesterday’s performance. I wish I could say expectations were higher, but with mostly the same toothless lineup, it’s hard for Rangers fans to feel optimistic as the two New York teams line up against one another.

The Blueshirts are icing a very similar lineup to last night's game, but this time, newly called-up Brett Berard is replacing Jonny Brodzinski, and Jonathan Quick is getting the nod over Spencer Martin. Mike Sullivan chose to have the third line on the ice for the opening faceoff, perhaps looking to give a small confidence boost to the pair of rookies and journeyman winger.

First Period

The opening frame was a relatively slow one for both teams. Neither team was able to get on the scoreboard, and the only penalty taken was with ten seconds left in the period when Rangers captain J.T. Miller tripped Matthew Schaefer.

The game began with some physicality, as the Rangers clearly played with more of an edge tonight than they did last night. The Rangers also dominated at the dot but were unable to take advantage of face-offs as they were tied with the Islanders with six shots apiece at the end of the period.

Second Period

The middle period continued where the first left off, mostly uneventful. The Rangers outshot the Islanders, but, per Steve Valiquette, their chances continued to be mainly from the perimeter and relatively low value.

Late in the period, you'll never guess what unfolds. In a surprising twist, Carson Soucy scores his first goal as an Islander, giving them a 1-0 lead. Jonathan Quick went behind the net to play the puck, but the Rangers couldn't gain control or clear the zone. Shabanov attempted a shot on goal, but it deflected off the boards to Soucy, who was down low in the circle and fired it past an awkwardly positioned Quick. Soucy was all smiles as he went to the bench.

Shortly after the Islanders took the lead, a "let's go Islanders" chant erupted. It was loud enough to be heard through the television broadcast, prompting Dave Maloney to remark that he's never heard that chant so loudly at Madison Square Garden before.

To plunge the dagger even deeper into their bleeding blue heart, the Islanders' rising star defenseman, Matthew Schaefer, scored shortly after. Deep in the Rangers' zone, Anders Lee passed the puck back to Bo Horvat, who slid it over to Schaefer. Schaefer took two steps toward the net and wristed it over Quick, who was battling through a screen. This goal gave Schaefer sole possession of the second-most goals by an 18-year-old defenseman, surpassing Bobby Orr and now only behind former Rangers coach Phil Housley.

Third Period

The Rangers had a power play early in the period, and in a moment of confusion, the referees initially sent Jean-Gabriel Pageau to the penalty box before replacing him with Ryan Pulock for boarding Perreault, a call that was arguably weak to begin with. In a set play, Mika Zibanejad sent the puck hard off the boards behind Ilya Sorokin all the way down the ice. J.T. Miller got their first, but Sorokin stopped him at the doorstep.

At first, it looked like the Rangers were going to whimper into the night, but after Trocheck forechecked and won the puck in the corner, Miller passed it back to Gavrikov, who sent the puck over to Zibanejad. With his stick high in the air, Zibanejad wound up for a blazing one-timer to get the Rangers on the board. This was Zibanejad's 273rd goal as a Ranger, surpassing Rangers legend Andy Bathgate and securing fifth place in all-time goals scored for the team.

The Blueshirts were starting to get back into the game, and the crowd at MSG was beginning to come alive. They cheered Laba on as he hustled and won the race to the puck, voiding an icing whistle. Nothing significant came of this, but it's a good example of the effort Laba puts into every game.

The game paused unexpectedly, leaving Kenny Albert and Dave Maloney unsure why. After a commercial break, Tony DeAngelo was in the penalty box for unsportsmanlike conduct, apparently having mouthed off inappropriately to the linesman. The camera then cut to Patrick Roy on the Islanders bench, who was nodding as if in agreement with the officials. The Rangers were unable to take advantage of the gift given to them by DeAngelo, but shortly after, Sorokin almost tied the game for the Rangers himself. Trying to play the puck, it got caught in his skate as he returned to the crease, but it bounced away harmlessly.

The Rangers kept pushing forward, playing with more pep in their step. Morrow shot a puck on goal that was deflected, forcing Sorokin to make a great save. As tensions grew, just over halfway through the period, both Urho Vaakanainen and Marc Gatcomb received two minutes for roughing after a scuffle in front of Quick escalated.

The following two minutes of 4-on-4 hockey sadly showed that the Islanders have the Rangers' number. Their superior and swift skating was on full display, especially as Matt Barzal kept control of the puck while skating all over the rink.

With a minute and change left in the game, Quick went to the bench. The Rangers controlled the puck in the Islanders' zone for a moment, but the Islanders pressured and got the puck out. Anders Lee beat Trocheck to the puck and skated toward the empty net, but Trocheck held onto Lee, forcing him to miss the empty net. The referees called a penalty, and the game was stopped with 18 seconds left. The Rangers called a timeout, trying to draw up a desperation play, but it amounted to nothing as the Islanders won the face-off and the game.