New York Islanders: New York Rangers Hangover Isn’t A Thing (Recently)

The Rangers hangover is nothing but a myth for the New York Islanders. Over the last five years, they’ve (usually) been dominant after games against the New York Rangers.

After a wild 7-5 win for the New York Islanders over the New York Rangers last week, it was let down to lose 6-2 to the Dallas Stars a few days later. The Isles showed great character against the Rangers to fight back from two goals down very early. That character just wasn’t there against the Stars.

Do the New York Islanders give so much in games against the New York Rangers that they have nothing left the next time out? Is there such a thing as a “Rangers Hangover”? Nope.

At least not recently. Looking back over the last five years, the New York Islanders have been usually dominant in games after playing the New York Rangers. (Just don’t look back on the five years after that. It isn’t pretty)

0.565 Win Percentage

Since 2013-14 the Rangers and Islanders have played a total of 23 times. The Isles record over those 23 games is 17-6-0 with a +19 goal differential. The Islanders clearly get up to play against their crosstown rival and dominating them over the last five years.

But what about in the next game? Do the New York Islanders suffer from the hangover of giving it everything to get one over on the Rangers?

In the 23 games following a Rangers game, the New York Islanders have gone 13-8-2. That’s a 0.565 win percentage. Over those 23 games after playing the Rangers, the Isles hold a 69-66 goal ratio for a +3 goal differential.

They may not win as handily as they do against the Rangers, but they win the majority of the time. So is there any credence to the “Rangers hangover”?

Probably. Looking back over the years 2008 through 2013 the Islanders weren’t nearly as good. Not only in the games preceding an all NYC game, but against the Rangers themselves.

In that time the two teams played 29 times. In the 29 games following a tilt against the Rangers the New York Islanders are 11-14-3 with a -6 goal differential. After giving it their all the Islanders frequently lost after playing the Rangers.

(PS: The Islanders record in those 29 games versus the Rangers between 08 and 13 was 10-18-1 with a -19 goal differential.)

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The Rangers Hangover is a fun narrative to put out there, but it doesn’t hold water when you look at the New York Islanders results immediately following an NYC derby. At least recently. It’s clear that it’s something that used to happen, but over the past five season-plus that’s not the case.