Rangers finally score against the Islanders, but still lose the game

Had some good moments, but still earned the loss

Elmont, NY- The New York Rangers headed over to UBS Arena at Belmont Park as they were getting ready for their first of a home-and-home as well as a back-to-back match-up against the New York Islanders. While they did have a better game, the Islanders found ways to score timely goals and take advantage of the Rangers deficences out on the ice as the Rangers fell by a final score of five to two.

No Panarin on the ice

Before the game began, the Rangers held out Artemi Panarin due to Roster Management, which usually means that the Rangers are working on a possible trade with several teams that are either not on Panarin’s list or trying to make a deal with a team that can be removed from his no-movement clause in his current contract. Many know that the Rangers are sellers at the trading deadline and are trying to make moves to improve for the future.

Islanders take advantage of and after the power play

The Islanders scored two quick goals to take the lead over the Rangers. First, they converted on the power play after the Rangers killed off a four-on-three, then gained the man advantage again after both sides had four on each side. Matthew Schaefer got the puck at the top of the offensive zone, then made a pass to Simon Holmstrom on the far boards. Then he found newly acquired Ondrej Palat inside the slot, and he swept it high over the shoulder of Spencer Martin at 14:59 of the first period.

The next goal came from the near-side faceoff circle. Jean-Gabriel Pageau won the faceoff and sent the puck toward the near point at Tony D’Angelo. He sent a long shot toward the net, and out of nowhere, Holmstrom got his stick down on the ice while being defended and redirected the puck past Martin into an open space at 16:10 of the first period. Quick thinking from the Islanders to put the Rangers into a two-goal hole.

Zibanejad adds to his Power Play tally

The Rangers finally got on the power play, and they were peppering the Islanders’ net. The puck was almost cleared, but the Rangers kept it at the far boards. Vladislav Gavrikov had control at the far point, then gave the puck back to J.T. Miller. He held the puck inside the faceoff circle, then made a quick, hard cross-ice pass to Mika Zibanejad down low at the near side and scored his Rangers career 118th power play goal at 18:04 of the first period. That was the first goal in three games that the Rangers were able to score against the Islanders.

The second period was repeated for the Islanders

The Rangers put themselves into a big hole when Sam Carrick was called for tripping down low behind the net, then at the top of the zone, he was also called for a cross-check from behind during the delayed penalty while the Islanders had possession of the puck. Once the play was whistled down, Matt Rempe skated in from behind and hit his man along the near boards. He was called for boarding, and the Islanders were on a two-man advantage on the power play.

While the Rangers did kill off the five-on-three against them, and Rempe came on to help with the penalty kill, Carrick’s second penalty time did start. But the Islanders finally took advantage and scored on the power play as Bo Horvat kept the puck inside the zone, then made a low pass down the far side toward Holmstrom. Then a cross-ice pass to Mathew Barzal waiting at the doorstep at the near side, and he just got it behind Martin to regain the two-goal lead at 13:12 of the second period.

Then, another goal for the Islanders as the Rangers tried to make a stop. Kyle MacLean entered the zone, skating down the near side, and found Marc Gatcomb trailing the play. Made a nice pass to Gatcomb’s blade, and he tried to stuff it in past Martin. While he did make the initial save, it was Pageau who skated in and jammed the puck loose from Martin’s pads to slither the puck completely over the goal line at 13: 59 of the second period.

Raddysh pulls a second back, but the Islanders get a fifth

Taylor Raddysh was able to get a second goal for the Rangers after Will Borgen and Noah Laba passed the puck to each other down low, but when Raddysh came in, he took the loose puck from his backhand to his forehand and jammed the puck in. While it did pinball inside the goalie’s pads, it did completely cross the goal line at 15:42, but once again, the Islanders were able to get another goal past Martin when Emil Heineman scored at 19:12 of the second period.

Carson Soucy’s first game against the Rangers.

Since his trade to the Islanders from the Rangers this past Monday night, you could see during warmups that Soucy was talking to his former teammates at centerice. A strange feeling to be traded from Manhattan to Long Island, but it also means that the negative energy wasn’t there just yet. Soucy will make one more visit to the Garden on Thursday night when the Islanders will attempt the season sweep.

MIKA ZIBANEJAD: Scored his 272nd goal as a Ranger, on the power play, tying Andy Bathgate for the fifth most goals in franchise history. With his goal, he surpassed Mark Messier for the fourth most power play points (233) in franchise history. He has recorded a point in back-to-back games (1G-1A) and has 21 points through his last 13 games (10G-11A). Over that span, his 10 goals are tied for the fifth most in the league, and his 21 points are tied for sixth.

J.T. MILLER: Notched an assist on Zibanejad’s power play goal. He has collected a point in back-to-back games (1G-1A) and has 10 points (3G-7A) through his last seven games, the most on the Blueshirts in that time span.

New York Rangers News:

• Matthew Robertson Pulls a Brian Leetch to Win in Overtime against the Bruins
• Another Poor Start Bites the Rangers at the Sharks
• Rangers Lackadazical Start dooms them at the Kings

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