NY Islanders look for payback against the NY Rangers at Madison Square Garden

Is it payback time? The New York Islanders will look to extend their winning streak to three games when they visit Madison Square Garden on Monday night for a matchup with the New York Rangers nearly a week after the Blueshirts blew out the Isles 5-1 at UBS Arena on Feb. 25.

Anthony Duclair and Pierre Engvall will be healthy scratches as the Isles will dress 11 forwards and seven defensemen. Jean-Gabriel Pageau is expected to skate alongside Anders Lee and Bo Horvat, while Maxim Tsyplakov will slot in on a line with Casey Cizikas and Hudson Fasching.

Last Time Out

The Islanders (27-24-7) are coming off a high-scoring 7-4 win over the Nashville Predators on Saturday afternoon, highlighted by Ilya Sorokin earning credit for an empty-net goal. Brock Nelson (2G, 1A), Jean-Gabriel Pageau (1G, 1A), Kyle Palmieri (PPG), Horvat, and Cizikas (1G, 1A) all contributed offensively, while Sorokin made 24 saves.

Meanwhile, the Rangers (29-23-6) enter the matchup after a dominant 4-0 shutout win over the Predators on Sunday night behind Jonathan Quick. Artemi Panarin, J.T. Miller, K’Andre Miller, and Brett Berard scored, while Quick stopped all 34 shots in his 800th career game, earning his third shutout of the season.

Season Series and Playoff Implications

The Rangers have won both games so far this season, and the Islanders are looking for their first win at MSG in four visits (0-3-1). The season series will wrap up on April 10 at UBS Arena. This is a crucial game in the standings that will swing playoff projections for both teams ahead of Friday's trade deadline. The Rangers trail the Detroit Red Wings by two points for the final Eastern Conference playoffs spot, while the Isles are five points back with one game in hand.