GDT: #34 New York Islanders @ New York Rangers | December 22nd | 7 PM | F/5-3 L

[PK Cronin]

NEW YORK ISLANDERS (18-13-2) AT NEW YORK RANGERS (18-11-5)
7 PM | MADISON SQUARE GARDEN
WATCH: MSGSN | MSGGO | ESPN+
LISTEN: 88.7FM | 103.9FM | ESPN APP

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The New York Islanders season-long five-game road trip wraps up close to home, as the Isles visit the New York Rangers at MSG on Thursday night at 7 p.m.

The Islanders are 1-1-2 through the first four games of the trip, picking up points in shootout losses to the Boston Bruins and Colorado Avalanche, scoring a win over the Vegas Golden Knights and falling to the Arizona Coyotes.

Most recently, the Isles fell 1-0 in a shootout to the reigning Stanley Cup champion Avalanche, their first 1-0 shootout loss since April 22, 2021 vs Washington. Ilya Sorokin made 46 saves in the shootout loss and was credited for his third shutout of the season.

The competition doesn't let up, as the Rangers had just won seven straight games prior to a 3-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday night. Chris Kreider scored both goals in the Rangers losing effort.

The Islanders have won both meetings against the Rangers this season, scoring a 3-0 shutout at UBS Arena on Oct. 26 and a 4-3 win at MSG on Nov. 8.

"It's a great rivalry between both the teams," Zach Parise said. "We've played well against them so far this year, and we'd love to get a third win out of the series and standings wise, it's really important."

While the rivalry always adds an intensity to Islanders-Rangers games, Thursday's tilt is an important one in the tight Metropolitan Division standings. The Islanders (38 points) and Rangers (41 points) currently occupy the two Wild Card spots in the Eastern Conference, with the Isles holding a game in hand. While it's still relatively early, only six points separate second from sixth in the Metro, so every point is crucial in divisional games.

"It's something special," Oliver Wahlstrom said of Isles-Rangers games. "You feel it when you step on the ice even in warm ups. Both teams going at it and there's a good respect level to there, so it's good fun hockey."

The Islanders have won five straight games at MSG and are 18-5-0 in their last 23 trips to Manhattan.

Click to read more...

 

[KnishOfTheCrease]

Isles 9
rag$ 1

 

[MJF]

Isles 9
rag$ 1

New profile title? I thought it said Chez Paree

IYKYK.

 

[Mr Misunderstood]

Must win.

 

[xECK29x]

 

[Kevin27NYI]

4-1 win

Goals from Lee, Nelson, Whalstrom and Salo

 

[CaptDenisPotvin]

Stay out of the box, we are better than them 5 on 5. The real question is do they play Halak against us or does Shitsterkin improve to 1-8 against us.

LGI 4-2 W

 

[leeroggy]

HEY!!! You buried this!

Isles 17-14

In a surprise move, the teams play Box Lacrosse instead of hockey. When asked why, the two sides couldn't agree on a reason. Drury claimed he was made 'an offer he couldn't refuse' and Lou just smiled. The NHL announced an investigation, led by Robert Mueller. A report is expected in June 2024. The NY Times immediately labeled the move as 'suspiciously like past Russian propaganda'. Keith Olbermann blamed Elon Musk and Elizabeth Warren was angered at the cultural appropriation of her ancestral sport.

Bailey is finally scratched in favor of the Isles Zamboni driver, as Lane noted it worked for the Hurricanes, and he wanted to send a message about Bailey 'lolly-gagging' around the ice. Lane revealed a conversation with Crash Davis led him in this direction and he also stated Annie Savoy suggested Bailey wear garters when back in the lineup and breathe through his eyelids. Bailey asked if he could open his Christmas presents the night before and his wife asked him when he would start with 'the slow, wet kisses'.

Holmstrom scores a hat trick and for good measure moons the fans in attendance. Gerard Gallant is so stunned he leaves the Garden in a taxi, forgetting his car in the parking lot. It's later revealed he'd been let go after the game and the flashback made him freak out.

In a surprise move, MSG announces that the broadcast team (for a simulcast), will be Sam Rosen and Butch Goring. Goring wears Cup rings on four fingers and makes sure to flash them every time Rosen says 'and it's an Islanders goal'. Butch then uses the rings as a brass knucks substitute when the Rangers score, puzzling Ranger fans who hear Rosen's trademark call 'it's a Rang . . . mmph'. Of course, puzzling Ranger fans traditionally starts at learning the alphabet in Pre-K, so few notice the difference.

Rangers' owner Dolan, frustrated at again losing at home to his rival, decides to block all Isles fans on Twitter and also petitions Facebook to block the phrase, "Dolan, the Islanders are su padre". Facebook asks the Biden Admin if it is okay, and they respond with a series of emails revealed by Matt Taibbi. Most read, 'sure, but we need a few thousand for the Big Guy, who truly is su padre'.

 

[Riseonfire]

Would love to see and Isles win and a big 'f*** you' hit on Captain Headshot.

 

[PK Cronin]

Of course they care, come on now. But I don't think they try hard enough for a league who is the 4th most popular.

Neither team played last night...nor do they play again the rest of the season (ya know, after the NFL season is over).

Whatever, f*** the Rags. Beat them senseless

From the other thread but I wanted to mention that it's a domino effect when moving the schedule around.

Here's an article about it if you're interested and have a subscription: What's it really like to put together the NHL's schedule?

 

[xECK29x]

It is an absolute joke this is the final game between these two teams. The NHL absolutely has to get its act together and get back to weighting the schedule in favor of divisional games. I hope the proposed 84 game schedule is real and happens.

 

[13th Floor]

From the other thread but I wanted to mention that it's a domino effect when moving the schedule around.

Here's an article about it if you're interested and have a subscription: What's it really like to put together the NHL's schedule?

Not to mention the Knicks played at the Garden last night. These arenas are busy and it's impossible to schedule around everything.

 

[Strummergas]

Let's GOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

 

[MJF]

I must be the only one who sees this game as just one of 82, and it’s against the team directoy ahead of us.

 

[13th Floor]

I must be the only one who sees this game as just one of 82, and it’s against the team directoy ahead of us.

The rivalry doesn't mean much for me anymore, especially not being in the area. The players move around so much, we've never been good at the same time (thanks mostly to us), we don't play each other nearly enough, and the game just isn't as nasty as it used to be.

Nothing has come close to the energy and vitriol that was palpable during Tavares' first game back at NVMC. The Rangers/Islanders rivalry seems completely manufactured compared to that.

 

[Big L]

Hard to have a rivalry if you barely play your rival.

Play every team out of the division twice, and that leaves 4 or 5 games between division opponents. No need for 84 games.



And digital board ads. That’s the real problem here.

 

[13th Floor]

Hard to have a rivalry if you barely play your rival.

Play every team out of the division twice, and that leaves 4 or 5 games between division opponents. No need for 84 games.



And digital board ads. That’s the real problem here.

I still can't figure out how we play teams from the Atlantic as many times as the Rangers. Who approved that? I lean on the side of liking the spreading out of games. Nice to know the Isles will come here every year, and for the local team, it's nice to see the whole league. But it should never get to the point where we're playing the Rangers as many times as the Ottawa f***ing Senators.

 

[Big L]

I still can't figure out how we play teams from the Atlantic as many times as the Rangers. Who approved that? I lean on the side of liking the spreading out of games. Nice to know the Isles will come here every year, and for the local team, it's nice to see the whole league. But it should never get to the point where we're playing the Rangers as many times as the Ottawa f***ing Senators.

This 1000%

 

[MJF]

The rivalry doesn't mean much for me anymore, especially not being in the area. The players move around so much, we've never been good at the same time (thanks mostly to us), we don't play each other nearly enough, and the game just isn't as nasty as it used to be.

Nothing has come close to the energy and vitriol that was palpable during Tavares' first game back at NVMC. The Rangers/Islanders rivalry seems completely manufactured compared to that.

Speaking as someone who goes to practically every Isles home game this is just another game on the schedule. Doesn’t matter to me if it’s the last time we’re seeing them or not.

 

[Big L]

FTS.

My Christmas break began last night but wasn’t able to properly kick it off due to scheduling.

The Christmas tree ain’t the only thing gettin lit tonight.

 

[Kevin27NYI]

The rivalry literally means nothing, I’m on the train and exchanging pleasantries, there is no rivalry and hasn’t been for years. Last time there was some heat was 2016. You need emotion on the ice to overflow into the stands.

Ran into Robin Salos parents or should I say “proud parents”

Very polite

 

[SI90]

Please win

 

[Jauffre]

Have to watch out for Chytil.

Maybe Romanov and Trouba send each other to the shadow realm.

 

[IslandersGER]

already won series with first 2 of 3, now please sweep them

 

[chico19341]

Let’s Go, Boys!