New York Rangers Look to Stay Hot Tonight vs. Islanders
By Mike Vecchio
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Madison Square Garden
Tonight, the Rangers take on their rivals the New York Islanders tonight at the World’s Most Famous Arena. The Isles and Rangers did battle early on in the season, with the Islanders pulling out the 6-3 win. Tonight, it’s a different story, as the Rangers come in having won 13 out of their last 14 games, while the Islanders are still playing great hockey. Here is what to look for in tonight’s matchup:
Goaltenders Duel
Tonight, Henrik Lundqvist will get the call for the Rangers. The King has been back in form lately. In his last 12 games, he is 11-1-0 with a 1.57 GAA and a .939 SV %. He is coming off of a great performance on Saturday, stopping 30 of 31 shots in a win over San Jose. In his first start against the Islanders, he was lit up, giving up six goals, four of them in the third period. However, with the way he is playing right now, look for him to put forth a much better effort.
For the Islanders, they will call on Jaroslav Halak. Coming off of a 21 save win against the Devils, Halak will look to match Lundqvist in net. In the first tilt at MSG, Halak stood on his head, stopping 40 of 43 shots. With his defensive core almost completely healthy in front of him, Halak continues to show why he can be a top 10 net minder in this league. No matter who comes out on top, it is sure to be a great goaltending duel.
Rick Nash vs. John Tavares
This game features two of the league’s best players. For the Rangers, it’s Rick Nash. I don’t think we need an explanation for how good Nash has been. After dealing wit a concussion last year, he has shown how good he can truly be. He’s tied for the league lead in goals, and he has 41 points in 39 games. To be honest, I wouldn’t be surprised if his name is in Hart Trophy talks. He isn’t just scoring fluke goals. He’s scoring goals that some people saw him score back in Columbus. He has just been that good.
Another name that should be thrown into the Hart mix is John Tavares. The former first overall pick has shown great growth over the past few seasons, and has turned into one of the great players in the game. He has 39 points in 42 games, and is meshing beautifully on the Islanders’ top line with Kyle Okposo and Josh Bailey. The Rangers need to watch out for him, as he can turn the momentum of a game in a heartbeat.
Players to Watch For
Rangers- Dan Boyle has suddenly been starting to find his game. After not making much of an impact for much of the season after breaking his hand, Boyle has suddenly come alive. He has four points in his last four games, and is starting to run the power play like he was brought in to do. If he gets the chance to make something happen, he will definitely take the opportunity.
Islanders- Ryan Strome has started to turn into the players the Islanders thought he would this season. After a slow start to the season, he has started playing very well on the second line with Frans Nielsen and Anders Lee. While he’s still a young gun for this team, Strome has shown that he can be an effective player at this level. With 9 points in his last seven games, he will definitely need to be watched closely.
So, this matchup will definitely be one that is worth watching. If I missed anything, let me know in the comments!