The New York Rangers are set to face the New York Islanders tonight at 7:30 PM ET at UBS Arena in a critical matchup with significant playoff implications.

 

Recent Performance

The Rangers (28-22-7) are coming off a 5-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins, aiming to build momentum as they push for a playoff spot. Conversely, the Islanders (25-24-7) have faced challenges recently, including a 4-3 loss to the Dallas Stars, and are striving to reverse their fortunes here late in the season.

 

Team Records and Trends

New York Rangers

• Overall Record: 28-22-7
• Road Record: 14-13-2
• Power Play: 21.2% (17th in the NHL)
• Penalty Kill: 82.2% (4th in the NHL)
• Last 10 Games: 5-5-0

New York Islanders

• Overall Record: 25-24-7
• Home Record: 13-12-2
• Power Play: 11.4% (32nd in the NHL)
• Penalty Kill: 70% (31st in the NHL)
• Last 10 Games: 6-4-0

 

Key Players to Watch

New York Rangers

• Artemi Panarin: Leading the team with 23 goals and 36 assists, Panarin’s offensive prowess is vital for the Rangers’ success and they will look to him down this stretch to elevate his play.
• Will Cuylle: The 22-year-old forward has emerged as a physical presence and key contributor for the Rangers. With 15 goals and 15 assists this season, Cuylle’s aggressive forechecking and ability to create scoring chances make him a player to watch, he also potted a goal last game.

New York Islanders

• Bo Horvat: The 29 year old forward leads the Islanders with 19 goals and 22 assists, providing consistent offensive output. He centers the top line and plays for top power play minutes for the Islanders.
• Tony DeAngelo: The former Rangers defenseman has been instrumental since joining the Islanders after leaving SKA in the KHL, so far he has recorded 1 goal and 4 assists in 9 games. His NHL career has been nothing short of dramatic, with plenty of teams confirming him as a locker room cancer.

 

Injury Report

New York Rangers

• Chris Kreider – Out with an upper-body injury; forward Brennan Othmann has been called up from the AHL as a potential replacement. This will be a game time decision.
• Adam Edstrom – Injured Reserve

New York Islanders

• Noah Dobson – Injured Reserve
• Matt Martin – Injured Reserve
• Mathew Barzal – Injured Reserve
• Marcus Hogberg – Injured Reserve
• Semyon Varlamov – Injured Reserve

 

Goaltending Matchup

New York Rangers

• Igor Shesterkin: Confirmed to start, Shesterkin holds a record of 19-20-2 in 41 games with a goals against average of 2.98 and a save percentage of .903 this season, including three shutouts.

New York Islanders

• Ilya Sorokin: Confirmed to start, Sorokin has a record of 20-17-4 in 41 games with a goals against average of 2.72 and a save percentage of .906 this season, with three shutouts this season.

 

Game Outlook

With both teams in close contention for playoff spots, tonight’s game is pivotal. The Rangers will look to capitalize on their recent victory, while the Islanders aim to overcome their recent struggles and leverage home-ice advantage. Special teams’ performance and goaltending will be critical factors in determining the outcome of this contest. Given the stakes, tonight’s matchup promises to be an intense and closely contested battle as both teams strive to enhance their playoff prospects.

 

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