Recap: Rangers Shutout for a Fifth Time on Home Ice, Fall 5–0 to the Islanders

Right back at it after a road win in Detroit, the New York Rangers looked to overcome their home woes as they took on the New York Islanders, one of their most storied rivals, for the first time this season. Unfortunately, it would go down as another unsuccessful mission as the Rangers picked up their fifth shutout loss of the season, all of which, on home ice.

Prior to the disappointment, it was the Rangers’ turn to celebrate their centennial season as tonight’s theme was the celebration of milestones and moments. In Sam Rosen’s first appearance since his retirement at the end of last season, he introduced a handful of Rangers’ legends, narrating some of the most exciting moments in franchise history. 

One by one, the following Rangers Alum were introduced, joining him on the ice for the pregame ceremony. Pete Stempkowski, Ron Greschner, John Davidson, Stepane Matteau, Adam Graves, Mike Richter, Henrik Lundqvist and Derek Stepan. 

First Period

The Rangers came out with some fire which set the tone for an incredibly fast paced opening period. Four minutes in, the Islanders drew the first penalty of the night as Emil Heineman got the stick up high on Will Borgen amidst a puck battle down low. The top unit went right to work with Will Cuylle thriving in a net front presence but the two minutes would come and go without them finding a way to convert. 

About two and a half minutes away from the midway point of the period, Mika Zibanejad nearly found the first goal of the night as he ripped an absolute laser of a shot off the post. He would pick up a second grade-A scoring chance on the same shift as he was found right at the door step but couldn’t find the net. 

Of course the tide would turn and just three minutes later, Heineman found Bo Horvat at the doorstep with a pass on an odd-man rush to make it a 1-0 game. Was a bit close to being offside but the Rangers didn’t attempt to challenge the play and now had a deficit to try and overcome. 

The goal sort of took the life out of things for the Rangers as they only had one shot on goal for the remainder of the period. On top of that, there were more whistles which played a role in things slowing down so drastically. With 33 seconds to go, a tough pinch in the neutral zone from Vladislav Gavrikov resulted in former friend Anthony Duclair leading the rush. Duclair dished a pass over to Jonathan Drouin who pulled off a slick move to beat Igor Shesterkin on a partial breakaway. 

A tough finish to another incredibly frustrating period of Rangers hockey on home ice. Offensively, they were getting chances but of course couldn’t finish. Defensively, they were playing their usual strong game but the Islanders took advantage of their pair of 2-on-1’s to establish a two goal lead. The first nine minutes, great. The last eleven minutes, the Rangers had one shot on goal and appeared to have almost checked out. Shots after twenty were 9-8 in the Islanders favor with the Rangers having the slight edge in attempts and expected goals. 

Second Period

The Islanders picked up right where they left off as the Rangers were still without a shot on goal for the first five minutes of the period. The Laba line was finally able to get some pucks on net but nearing the midway point of the period, there was very minimal energy from the Rangers and fans alike. Quite the sloppy start to the period filled with lots of turnovers and just four shots in the first twelve minutes of the middle period. 

With seven minutes to go, the Rangers got a second chance at the power play as Tony DeAngelo was called for holding. This resulted in another strong showing from the Rangers top unit, including some Mika one timers but again, the Rangers couldn’t convert which was especially concerning giving the fact that there was now just five minutes to go in yet another game on home ice where there was a big ole goose egg next to their name on the scoreboard. 

With three minutes to go, the Rangers took their first penalty of the night as Conor Sheary got his stick in the hands of Matthew Schaefer, earning him two for hooking. The Rangers were just twelve seconds away from killing off the advantage, however Horvat would pick up his second of the night to extend the Islanders lead to three. A nice move from Drouin in front of Shesterkin sent it back to Horvat as he was able to send it past Shesterkin to make it 3-0. 

Another disappointing close to another brutal period as the Rangers just couldn’t seem to get anything going. Shots after forty minutes were now 21-15 in the Islanders favor as the Rangers only put the puck on net seven times in the second period. This was now the 14th of 20 periods of hockey on home ice in which the Rangers have been held scoreless. 

Third Period

When in doubt, put Conor Sheary on the top line right? That’s exactly what Mike Stullivan did here to start the third as the Rangers were growing desperate to get involved in this one. The Rangers got an energetic shift from their fourth line on their first rotation but about five minutes in, another hooking penalty, this time assessed to Noah Laba sent the Rangers back to the penalty kill. Thankfully, the Rangers came out of this one unscathed.

Approaching the midway point of the third, the Rangers got a dominant shift out of the J.T. Miller line but did more passing than shooting. This kept the puck in the Islanders' end of the ice for close to two minutes with the attack coming to an end with a glove save from Ilya Sorokin off a shot from Adam Fox at the point.

With five minutes to go, the Rangers pulled Shesterkin for the extra attacker. An aggressive decision for a team desperate for answers, the Rangers generated possession in the offensive zone for about a minute and a half before spending thirty seconds in their own end where the Islanders came close on a couple of chances. Schneider did a good job of tending the empty net and with three minutes to go, the Rangers were back for an offensive zone draw where they utilized their timeout.

It wouldn't do them any good as a minute later, the Islanders cleared the zone and Jean-Gabriel Pageau was able to send it to the empty net to make it a 4-0 game. J.T. Miller would break his stick out of frustration for the second time in this one as the team's struggles on home ice grow all the more unfathomable. With less than 30 seconds to go, the Rangers gave up another odd-man rush which resulted in Anders Lee making it a 5-0 game.

That would seal the deal on a pretty miserable showing from the Rangers as they drop the second half of a back-to-back by the score of 5-0. They'll have a quick turn around as they're back at it on home ice Monday Night as they'll host the Nashville Predators.