New York Rangers vs New York Islanders: After The Horn
By Dani
Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
Final Score:
New York Rangers-4 New York Islanders-1
First Period:
If it surprises you to know that both teams came out ready to play and ready to battle, you don’t understand that this is a rivalry.It didn’t take long for the pushing and shoving start. The game was face paced and the puck was moving well. At 3:29 Marc Staal had a beautiful shot that was tipped in by Brian Boyle to put the Rangers on the board first. This goal and assist gave Staal and Boyle each three points in the last three games. The Rangers played a forceful period blocking shits and stealing pucks. Derick Brassard too the only penalty of the period at 10:58 on a holding call. The Islanders weren’t able to convert on the power play and the teams went to the dressing rooms with the Rangers leading 1-0. Shots were 14-12 in favor of the Rangers. The Rangers also led with eight hits, 10 blocked shots (four by Ryan McDonagh) and four takeaways.
Second Period:
The Islanders came out fighting for the puck and playing with intensity. At 3:26 Mats Zuccarello was able to draw a cross checking penalty on Andrew MacDonald. The Rangers weren’t able to get their power play unit on the ice until the penalty was nearly expired. The Islanders had a few very close short-handed opportunities. The Rangers’ power play didn’t yield a goal but it also didn’t give up a short-hander either. Henrik Lundqvist had a HUGE poke check save around the 10:00 mark of the game. He was way out of his crease and you could hear the arena get nervous seeing him out so far from the net.Amid the fury of shots Lundqvist faced, he made some really big saves and a penalty was assessed on Ryan McDonagh at 12:23 for hooking. The penalty kill was strong, thanks to Lundqvist, but weak by all other accounts. The Rangers couldn’t clear the puck or even manage to gain control of it. There were so many second and third opportunities on shots. What do the Rangers when their top penalty killing defenseman is in the “sin bin”? The Islanders scored on a penalty kill unit who were completely gassed just after the penalty expired. The unit played the entire two minutes of the penalty. Kyle Okposo beat Lundqvist at 14:28 after countless shots on goal. The period ended with The Rangers getting a power play from a holding the stick call on Thomas Hickey with five seconds remaining. The Islanders owned the period, out shooting the Rangers 18-6 for the period.
Third Period:
The Rangers opened the period on the power play in which they had only four shots on goal. Despite not converting, the Rangers came out strong and looking to score. The Rangers controlled the puck and the flow of the game as the Islanders looked to get some traction. at 7:31 Brad Richards was called on a questionable hooking call. It was less hooking and more lifting the stick from behind. As Lundqvist made a big save, the teams came together in front of the Rangers net. Lundqvist skated off as the mob pushed and shoved. Play continued and the pushing and shoving started again. Matching minors sent a player from each team to the box leaving the teams playing four on three hockey with the Islanders increasing their intensity to match that of the Rangers. Derek Stepan got robbed on a shot followed by another big save on Nash which yielded another pile up in front of the Islanders net. Chris Kreider absolutely rocked Casey Cizikas with a punch to the face as he was being taken down. Both ended up in the box for roughing at 11:39. With a delayed penalty Lundqvist made his way to the bench for the extra attacker and Derick Brassard found the back of the net at 12:14. Just under three minutes later the Rangers catch the Islanders out of position and Richards gets the “5 hole” goal for insurance at 14:59. Out of clear frustration John Tavares slashed Ryan Callahan and landed himself in the box with 1:54 remaining in the game. Doing what he does best, Benoit Pouliot gets himself sent to the box to negate the power play opportunity after slashing Evgeni Nabokov with 1:09 remaining. With one second remaining on the clock McDonagh hit the empty net to seal the victory at 4-1. The Rangers dominated the third period as they out shot the Islanders 17-8 for the period, though the Islanders led the game with 39 shots to the Rangers’ 37.
Team Stats:
CATEGORY NYI NYR
Power Plays 0/3 0/3
Hits 19 20
Faceoff Wins 27 36
Giveaways 4 12
Takeaways 4 8
Blocked Shots 15 18
Penalty Minutes 10 12
Three Stars:
3) Marc Staal
2) Mats Zuccarello
1) Henrik Lundqvist
Next, the Rangers host the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday at 7:00pm.