Islanders-Rangers Preview
New York’s archrival hockey teams continue to disappoint,
failing to live up to expectations a season after each turned in
solid performances in the playoffs.
The Rangers, losers of five of six, look to deal the Islanders
their 14th defeat in 15 games when they meet Friday night at
Madison Square Garden.
The Rangers (16-17-2) replaced coach John Tortorella with Alain
Vigneault after last season’s second-round exit, and they made
Henrik Lundqvist the highest-paid goaltender in the NHL with a
seven-year, $59.5 million extension Dec. 4, but the club has
battled inconsistency all season long.
The Rangers are 1-3-2 over their last six after Wednesday’s 4-3
shootout loss to Pittsburgh, though they rallied to tie it in the
third period with goals from Mats Zuccarello and Derick
Brassard.
“I think being down 3-1 we were in a tough spot, but we kept
fighting and that’s a good sign,” said Lundqvist, who made 29 saves
but dropped to 2-3-2 with a 3.31 goals-against average since
signing his new deal. “I feel like the last two games we’re making
progress.”
The Rangers hope that’s the case. They ended a four-game losing
streak with a 4-3 shootout win over Calgary on Sunday before
battling back to earn a point against the conference-leading
Penguins.
”We put some points together, and if we do this continuously, I
think guys will start to feel a lot better about themselves,”
forward Brad Richards said.
The Rangers are 8-0-2 in the last 10 meetings with the
Islanders, winning 3-2 on Oct. 29 with Cam Talbot in net.
Lundqvist, who’s started seven straight games, has won his last six
starts against the Islanders with a 1.14 GAA.
If he gets the nod Friday, he’ll be facing a struggling
opponent. Frans Nielsen scored midway through the third period to
put the Islanders up by two goals Tuesday, but Tampa Bay tied it
with 3.8 seconds remaining and won the shootout for a 3-2
victory.
The Islanders (9-19-7) have lost three straight and are 1-9-4 in
their last 14. They were hoping for bigger things after losing a
hard-fought, six-game series to Pittsburgh in the first round of
the postseason – their first playoff appearance since 2007.
”It’s unbelievable, it’s frustrating, it’s disappointing,”
said captain John Tavares, who angrily slammed his stick against
the boards after failing to convert on the game’s final shootout
attempt. ”We’re not happy.”
Evgeni Nabokov made 34 saves and has stopped 58 of 61 shots in
two starts since returning from a groin injury that forced him to
miss 12 games. He lost to Montreal 1-0 in overtime Saturday in his
first game back.
”We just don’t know how to win right now,” Nabokov said.
The Islanders have dropped 11 of their last 12 on the road.
”It’s important how we respond in our next game after a tough
loss like (Tuesday),” coach Jack Capuano said.
Nabokov made 21 saves in the first meeting of the season with
the Rangers and could be in net again for this contest. He’s 1-2-3
with a 2.58 GAA in his last six starts in the series.
The Islanders won the most recent matchup at MSG on March 14,
snapping an eight-game road skid to the Rangers.
