With their winning streak at six games, the New York Islanders (37-27-15) visit the New York Rangers (53-23-4) for their second matchup of the week.
With their winning streak at six games, the New York Islanders (37-27-15) visit the New York Rangers (53-23-4) with a chance to clinch a spot in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Puck drop from Madison Square Garden is scheduled for 12:30 p.m.
In their Tuesday meeting, the Islanders held off the Rangers for a 4-2 win. The Islanders jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first period on goals by Mike Reilly, Bo Horvat, and Kyle Palmieri. The Rangers cut the deficit to one in the middle period with red lights from Chris Kreider and Adam Fox. However, Semyon Varlamov finished the game with 31 saves, allowing Anders Lee to seal the game on an empty-net goal in the final minute.
Both teams enter Saturday's game with playoff implications on the line. The Islanders, with a win and some help, could punch their ticket to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Rangers, while already playoff-bound, won't be able to clinch the Metropolitan Division; they have a magic number of four with the Carolina Hurricanes one point behind them.
Where They've Been:
In their lone game since meeting the Islanders, the Rangers dropped a 4-1 decision to the Philadelphia Flyers. Cam York and Artemi Panarin each lit the lamp in the first period, but Philadelphia got the final three goals of the game. Bobby Brink and Travis Konecny scored in the second, and Noah Cates added insurance in the third, giving the Flyers the win and snapping their eight-game losing streak.
Players to Watch:
After starting three straight games, Patrick Roy will turn back to Ilya Sorokin for his 54th start of the season (24-19-11, 3.02 GAA, .908 SV%). He last started on April 4 against the Columbus Blue Jackets, picking up a win with 25 saves. Against the Rangers, Sorokin is 3-3-1 with a 3.29 GAA and .900 SV%, taking the loss in his last start with five goals against on 31 shots.
Palmieri enters play on a four-game goal streak, potting the overtime winner against the Montreal Canadiens. The forward is two goals shy of his career-high in goals with 30.
Reilly has points in three straight games for the Islanders. The forward has a goal and two assists in that span.
Brock Nelson leads the Islanders in goals against the Rangers with 16. Mathew Barzal, who had an assist in their last meeting, has 25 and 35 points to lead the team.
Igor Shesterkin will make his second start against the Islanders this week and 54th of the season (34-17-2, 2.65 GAA, .911 SV%). He took the loss on Tuesday with three goals against on 27 shots. Against the Islanders, Shesterkin is 4-8-1 with a 3.20 GAA and .885 SV%.
Panarin extended his point streak to 11 games on Thursday; the All-Star has nine goals and 14 assists in that span. He also has a five-game point streak against the Islanders with two goals and six helpers in that span.
Mika Zibanejad extended his four-game point streak entering play on Saturday, totaling two goals and four assists in that stretch. The forward also has points in five straight against the Islanders, tallying two goals and three assists.
After his goal against the Islanders on Tuesday, Kreider extended his lead in goals against New York, totaling 17 for his career. Panarin's success in recent matchups gives him the lead in assists and points, totaling 27 and 39, 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 -- Sebastian Aho
Ilya Sorokin
Semyon Varlamov
New York Rangers Projected Lines:
Chris Kreider -- Mika Zibanejad -- Jack Roslovic
Artemi Panarin -- Vincent Trochek -- Alexis Lafreniere
Will Cuylle -- Alex Wennberg -- Kaapo Kakko
Jimmy Vesey -- Jonny Brodzinski -- Matt Rempe
Ryan Lindgren -- Adam Fox
K'Andre Miller -- Jacob Trouba
Erik Gustafsson -- Braden Schneider
Igor Shesterkin
Jonathan Quick
How To Watch:
Saturday's game is an ABC-exclusive broadcast, the final such contest for either team this season. On the radio, the matchup will air on 88.7 FM WRHU, 103.9 LI News Radio and 1050 AM ESPN.