NHL Rumors and News
The NHL schedule makers messed up this year by only having the New York Rangers and New York Islanders face off three times. To make matters worse, tonight’s game at Madison Square Garden will be their final meeting with four months left in the season.
The Rangers currently lead the Islanders by three points in the division and the first wild card spot. The Islanders will face the struggling Florida Panthers at home tomorrow in their final game before the holiday break.
Here’s the game and broadcast information for tonight:
New York Islanders (18-11-5) vs. New York Rangers (18-11-5)
Date and time: December 22, 2022, 7:00 p.m. Madison Square Garden ETArena MSGRadio: ESPN 98.7
Final meeting between the New York Rangers and the New York Islanders
On March 17, 2022, at Madison Square Garden, New York Rangers center Mika Zibanejad (93) collides with New York Islanders center Brock Nelson (29) during the first period. Danny Wild-USA TODAY Sports is required to provide credit.
Regardless of the outcome of tonight’s game, the Islanders have already clinched the season series by winning the first two games. Ilya Sorokin stole the show in a 3-0 shutout at UBA Arena on October 26. On November 8, the Rangers suffered one of the season’s most crushing defeats. The Isles led 3-1 heading into the third period before rallying with three unanswered goals for a big win.
Of course, the Rangers had been on a roll, winning seven in a row before a hiccup in Pittsburgh against the Penguins in the second period ended their longest winning streak of the season.
“We competed and worked hard,” Gerard Gallant said. “It’s a shame about the two power play goals we gave up late in the second… “A little disorganized.”
Fourth line forward Sammy Blais was benched for the third period when the Rangers attempted a comeback after taking a retaliation penalty that led to Pittsburgh’s second power-play goal. If there is a lineup change for tonight, Julien Gauthier could be back after being scratched for the last three games.
Igor Shesterkin is expected to make his season debut tonight, looking to rebound from his first regulation loss. His career record against the Islanders is a dismal 1-7-1 (GAA 3.15,.884 SV%).
While the Rangers have gone 8-2-1 in their last 11 games, the Islanders have struggled a bit, going 3-5-2 in their last ten.
Semyon Varlamov is out with a lower-body injury, so Ilya Sorokin is expected to start. Kyle Palmieri and Cal Clutterbuck may miss the game due to upper-body injuries.
At the end of the day, none of this matters because recent win-loss records are thrown out the window when these two rivals clash. Furthermore, with the two teams being so close in the standings and this being the final regular season matchup, a tough battle is in store.