New York Islanders Fan Guide To Thanksgiving With Rangers Fans

Happy Thanksgiving! If you’re a New York Islanders fan having to spend the day with your Rangers fan family here is some advice to get through the day.

Last night the New York Islanders got smoked by their crosstown rival New York Rangers. It wasn’t good, a 5-0 bloodbath that ended the Islanders winning streak against the Blueshirts. Now that it’s Thanksgiving there’s a good chance you’re going to have to see your Ranger fan family.

Here’s a little advice for you from someone who goes through it every year. My uncle is a die-hard Ranger fan and not the kind that can have a conversation about other teams in the league without saying that team “sucks”.

You’ve had these conversations before, it’s no fun talking with ignorant fans but in the holiday season it’s bound to happen. So today I’ll give you a guide to getting through all the dumb shots and storylines that’ll be thrown your way.

John Tavares

You know that snake is going to be brought up. Instead of rehashing those awful emotions from July spin zone it. Go into how you’re confident in Lou Lamoriello, who has three Stanley Cups to his name, and Barry Trotz who just won the Stanley Cup this past year.

The Islanders are in great hands and the Rangers also have one (1) Stanley Cup in the last 78 years so they shouldn’t bring up Cups but if they do bring that one up.

Also “Mathew Barzal is better” is an acceptable rebuttal to any Tavares talk.

The Arena/Attendance

“You can’t even see the ice at the Barclays!” you should have an answer for that one because it’s been a lazy talking point for four years but oddly enough opposing fans LOVE bringing up the Barclays Center.

The team is moving, and no not to another state, they have a new arena set to break ground in 2019. The New York Islanders will have their very own arena and a fun young team when it’s ready. Bring up the fact that the Islanders have a top-five farm system and by the time their new arena opens they’ll be competitive.

Also, next year the team is likely going back to the Coliseum full time. Tell them that the wretched Barclays experiment is coming to an end, so get over it.

Last Night’s Game

Yeah, last night was awful. But the Islanders are 15-4 against the Rangers since the 2014-2015 season. It’s about time the Rangers ended the Islanders eight-game winning streak.

Denis Potvin’s Hit

Ah yes, the old guard’s favorite thing to bring up. Spoiler alert, the hit wasn’t dirty. Obviously, you never want to see anyone get hurt but in a physical game, it happens. Potvin didn’t do anything wrong.

Potvin is a Hall of Famer and one of the best defenseman to ever lace them up. Don’t let the old guard forget that he has four (4) Stanley Cups to his name.

It’s never easy talking to Rangers fans, especially when they bring up old talking points like the ones mentioned here. Hopefully, you have your ammunition ready, I know at my table there will be no political talk, just sports debates.