With five games remaining in the regular season, the New York Islanders (35-27-15) play the first of two games with the New York Rangers (53-21-4) in the penultimate week of the season.
EAST MEADOW, NY -- With five games remaining in the regular season, the New York Islanders (35-27-15) play the first of two games with the New York Rangers (53-21-4) in the penultimate week of the season.
Puck drop from UBS Arena is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
The Rangers took the first two rivalry matchups this season, most recently on St. Patrick's Day at Madison Square Garden.
Bo Horvat opened the scoring on a shorthanded tally in the first period, but the Rangers tallied two goals in response from Mika Zibanejad and Will Cuylle. Horvat's second of the game got the Islanders even, but the Rangers scored three straight to finish the win. Jonny Brodzinski gave the Rangers the lead with five minutes left in the second, and Kaapo Kakko and Alexis Lafreniere put the game out of reach in the third, finishing a 5-2 win.
The Rangers are currently the top seed in the Metropolitan Division, and they need a magic number of four to clinch it. The second-seeded Carolina Hurricanes play the Boston Bruins tonight.
Where They've Been:
The Rangers took one step closer to the division title on Sunday against the Montreal Canadiens. Cole Caufield opened the scoring late in the first period, but Mika Zibanejad, Chris Kreider, and Artemi Panarin scored three straight in response across the second and third periods. Alex Newhook responded in the mid-stages of the third, but Zibanejad's second of the game and a Lafreniere empty net goal sealed a 5-2 win at the Garden.
Players To Watch:
Islanders head coach Patrick Roy confirmed Semyon Varlamov will make his 25th start of the season on Tuesday (11-8-4, 2.72 GAA, .916 SV%). Varlamov has been the hot hand for the Islanders as of late, most recently earning a 42-save shutout against the Nashville Predators on Saturday. Against the Rangers, he is 13-8-2 with a 2.62 GAA and .914 SV%, most recently making 37 saves in a 4-3 win on Nov. 8, 2022.
Horvat has had the Rangers' number this season, scoring three goals across their first two meetings this season; he also lit the lamp at the Stadium Series in February. Brock Nelson has also had success against the Rangers this year, totaling a goal and three assists in their two matchups.
Noah Dobson has goals in back-to-back games, scoring the game-winner against Nashville on Saturday. Dobson is two points shy of 70 for the season, he could become the third blueliner to reach the plateau, joining Jean and Denis Potvin.
While Horvat went pointless on Saturday, Mathew Barzal extended his point streak to four games against Nashville; the Islanders All-Star nominee has five assists in that span.
Nelson leads the Islanders in goals against the Rangers with 16. Barzal leads the team in the remaining offensive categories with 24 assists and 34 points.
Igor Shesterkin will make his 53rd start of the season on Tuesday against the Islanders (34-16-3, 2.64 GAA, .911 SV%). Shesterkin earned the win on Sunday with 26 saves against the Canadiens last time out. Against the Islanders, he is 4-7-1 with a 3.21 GAA and .884 SV%, earning the win with 25 saves in their last meeting.
Panarin has been white hot both overall and against the Islanders as of late. Panarin has a four-game point streak against the Islanders with two goals and five assists in that span and a nine-game point streak with eight goals and 13 assists in that span.
The Rangers' two former top picks have three-game point streaks against the Islanders entering play Tuesday; Lafreniere has a goal and three assists in his stretch, while Kakko has two goals and a helper. Adam Fox has also been hot against the Islanders, tallying five assists in his last four matchups.
Despite being kept off the board in their last meeting, Kreider leads the Rangers in goals against the Islanders with 16. Panarin's recent dominance against them gives him the lead in assists and points with 26 and 38, respectively.
New York Islanders Projected Lines:
Casey Cizikas -- Bo Horvat -- Mathew Barzal
Simon Holmstrom -- Brock Nelson -- Kyle Palmieri
Anders Lee -- Jean-Gabriel Pageau -- Pierre Engvall
Matt Martin -- Kyle MacLean -- Cal Clutterbuck
Alexander Romanov -- Noah Dobson
Adam Pelech -- Ryan Pulock
Mike Reilly -- Robert Bortuzzo
Semyon Varlamov
Ilya Sorokin
New York Rangers Projected Lines:
Chris Kreider -- Mika Zibanejad -- Jack Roslovic
Artemi Panarin -- Vincent Trochek -- Alexis Lafreniere
Will Cuylle -- Alex Wennberg -- Kaapo Kakko
Barclay Goodrow -- Jonny Brodzinski -- Jimmy Vesey
Ryan Lindgren -- Adam Fox
K'Andre Miller -- Jacob Trouba
Erik Gustafsson -- Braden Schneider
Igor Shesterkin
Jonathan Quick
*Projected lineup from Vince Mercogliano.
How To Watch:
The Islanders' broadcast for the game will air on MSGSN. On the radio, the game will air on 88.7 FM WRHU, 103.9 LI News Radio and the ESPN NY app.