New York Islanders Drop Two Points Against New York Rangers

The New York Islanders can’t take back-to-back wins against the New York Rangers with the special teams just not clicking.

They just played two nights ago in Manhattan in was a feisty affair between the New York Islanders and the New York Rangers. Within seconds Ross Johnston and Cody McLeod were at each other.

We always hear that when teams play each other in short succession (such as the playoffs) they grow to hate each other. The Islanders and Rangers already hate each other, you could only imagine how chippy this game might be.

The Islanders are undefeated against the Rangers in the Barclays center, hopefully that continues this afternoon.

First Period

Unlike Thursday there was no chippyness to start the game. In fact it was fairly quiet for the first twenty minutes. There were a few penalties called, but nothing that you’d attribute to a usual Islanders-Rangers game.

The Isles failed to capitalize on three power play opportunities in the first period. They looked great against the Rangers on Thursday going two-for-three, but looked like a completely different team on the man advantage two days later.

They couldn’t move the puck with any speed or purpose and they weren’t able to get anything towards the net. The Rangers would have a similar period so it was all square at 0-0 through 20.

Second Period

Finally some scoring. At the eight minute mark Anthony Beauvillier scores on what seemed to be the power play with some soft hands down low. Turns out the time had just expired so it was deemed a 5on5 goal.

Bailey picks up his second point in two nights, but more importantly Beauvillier scores his first goal in ten games.

With only 16 points in the first half of the season, Beau needs to find his rhythm as the Islanders enter the second half of the game.

Unfortunately Chytil puts the Rangers on the board off a poor passage of play by Nick Leddy. First, an up the gut pass gets picked off and then he immediately gets caught flat footed as Chytil blows by him to make it 1-1.

The Isles let another two power play opportunities go by, including a five on three power play.

Third Period

The Islanders had no life in the third period what so ever. They paid for it at the 14:55 mark when Mats Zuccarello gets one to go off his skate to go into the net.

The Islanders did enough to win this game, but the special teams cost them on the afternoon.

Fans of the Game

We ask fans before the game who they think will score the New York Islanders first goal. Many of you got Anthony Beauvillier.

Three Stars

1. Anthony Beauvillier: 1 goal

It’s good that he’s scoring again. The Isles are going to have to have a good second half of the season from him to keep up in the East.

2. Josh Bailey: 1 assist

His second point in two games. After a slow-ish stint it seems that Bailey is back.

3. Alexandar Georgiev: 24 saves, 0.960SV%

While Henrik Lundqvist can’t seem to beat the Islanders Georgiev can’t lose against the Isles.