Stan Fischler On Rangers Cup Chances With their quest for winning the Metropolitan Division hitting a bit of turbulence, the New York Rangers [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers/latest-news/how-laviolettes-incendiary-comments-could-lead-to-a-saturday-new-york-islanders-rangers-war] (53-23-4) host the New York Islanders (37-27-15). Puck drop from Madison Square Garden is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. New York Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson (8) checks New York Rangers center Vincent Trocheck (16) into the boards during the third period at UBS Arena Tuesday. [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjA1NzAyMTE5MTkyMjc0NDYx/usatsi_22986440.jpg] New York Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson (8) checks New York Rangers center Vincent Trocheck (16) into the boards during the third period at UBS Arena Tuesday. In their Tuesday meeting, the Islanders held the Rangers off, 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. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjFk3VEwVo0[/embed] The Rangers cut the deficit to one in the middle period with red lights from Chris Kreider and Adam Fox. However, Semyon Varlamov, finishing 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 Rangers, while already Stanley Cup Playoff bound, have a magic number of four to clinch the Metropolitan Division; the Carolina Hurricanes sit one point behind the Rangers for first after a win on Saturday. Meanwhile, the Islanders could could punch their ticket to the postseason today, but they need a win and a few scores to break their way. WHERE THEY'VE BEEN: The Islanders extended their winning streak to six games on Thursday against the Montreal Canadiens. Montreal took the lead twice in the game on goals from Jordan Harris in the first and Cole Caufield in the third. However, the Islanders had answers for each marker, with Pierre Engvall responding in the second and Casey Cizikas answering in the third. In overtime, Kyle Palmieri beat Sam Montembeault from a sharp angle, capping off a 3-2 Islander win. PLAYERS TO WATCH: 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 has a 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 give him the lead in assists and points, totaling 27 and 39, respectively. 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. 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 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 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.
