By GIULIA MILANA
The New York Rangers (40-17-7, 87 points) are facing off tonight in Uniondale against the New York Islanders (43-21-4, 90 points). This game is not only the last matchup between these two teams in the regular season, but since the Islanders are moving to Brooklyn, it is the last time that these arch rivals will ever meet at Nassau Coliseum—ever (excluding the possibility of a playoff series, that is).
The Islanders, who are 10-3-2 in their last fifteen games, are going into tonight’s game after a big comeback win against the Toronto Maple Leafs last night. The Islanders scored two goals in thirty seconds in the middle of the third period to tie the game at 3. The game went into overtime, during which captain John Tavares scored the game-winning goal.
The Rangers, who are 10-1-2 in their last thirteen games, played on Sunday night against the Chicago Blackhawks. The game remained scoreless through sixty minutes of hockey. However, just thirty-two seconds into overtime, Derick Brassard’s slap shot from the left circle was the game winner. Cam Talbot, backup goalie to the injured Henrik Lundqvist, stopped all 29 of Chicago’s shots for his fifth shutout of the season and the Rangers’ league-leading tenth of the season.
The two teams have met four times this season thus far, and the Islanders came out victorious in the first three. As of right now, the Islanders are in first place in the Metropolitan Division, but the Rangers are fighting for that spot. The Islanders only have three more points than the Rangers, but the Rangers have played four fewer games. In all, tonight’s game promises to be an exciting one. If the Islanders win, their lead in the division will go up even more. If the Rangers win, they will be just one point behind the Islanders, with four games on hand.
Coverage of tonight’s game begins at 7:00 p.m. on MSG.