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New York Rangers: The real deal, other takeaways from dramatic Isles win

By Andrew Steele-Davis

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 25: The New York Rangers celebrate their 4-3 overtime win against the New York Islanders at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on February 25, 2020 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 25: The New York Rangers celebrate their 4-3 overtime win against the New York Islanders at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on February 25, 2020 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 25: The New York Rangers celebrate their 4-3 overtime win against the New York Islanders at NYCB Live’s Nassau Coliseum on February 25, 2020 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 25: The New York Rangers celebrate their 4-3 overtime win against the New York Islanders at NYCB Live’s Nassau Coliseum on February 25, 2020 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

1. Record-Breakers

This was a huge win for the New York Rangers against their rivals, but it was also significant in more ways than one.

Not only did they clinch the season series against the Islanders, but the Blueshirts also achieved something that had never been done before in the 94-year history of this storied franchise.

By winning at the Nassau Coliseum – although it felt like home ice given the sheer number of Blueshirts in attendance – the Rangers won their eighth straight game on the road.

That is a remarkable run and the way the Rangers have performed away from MSG has played a huge role in their recent success.

In total, New York is 8-1-0 in their last nine outings and the win over their rivals on Tuesday was their fourth straight.

The Rangers are now four points away from the Columbus Blue Jackets and five points back from the Islanders.

Although not a perfect game by anyone’s standards, this was a momentous win for the Rangers who declared on Monday that they were ready to win now, and they certainly walked the walk last night.

While they may have had some luck with some of the officiating decisions, the Blueshirts deserved to win this game.

Let’s not forget, the Islanders were riding the high of going all in after trading for Jean-Gabriel Pageau at the Trade Deadline, while the Nassau Coliseum is one of the most intimidating arenas to play at.

Plus, the Rangers were no doubt feeling it after seeing the popular Brady Skjei traded to the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday, while they were also dealt a gut punch with both Igor Shesterkin and Pavel Buchnevich involved in a car crash on Sunday.

So, all in all, the Rangers were already emotionally drained and they had to drag themselves off the canvas on a number of occasions as the Islanders kept fighting back.

However, this team has proven over and over again recently that they are made of tough stuff and they have matured beyond belief.

They took the body blows, soaked up the pressure and then fought back themselves to deliver the knockout blow in overtime, which we will get on to shortly.

This was another pivotal step in the maturation process of this young team, and the future looks a lot brighter all of a sudden.

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