Islanders vs. Rangers: A Fresh Start Post-Christmas

The Islanders and Rangers are set to clash on Saturday night at UBS Arena, both hoping to hit the reset button after the holiday break.

With just two points separating the teams in the Metropolitan Division and Eastern Conference standings, there’s plenty at stake, although the Islanders have played a couple fewer games.

The point difference really can be traced back to their first battle this season, where the Islanders secured a decisive 5-0 victory on November 8 at Madison Square Garden.

As they prepare for the second of their four meetings this season—two more are scheduled for home-and-home series on January 28 and 29—three key factors are at play for both teams.

Rangers: Dealing with Absences

A Difficult Break

Since their last matchup, the Rangers have been hit hard by injuries, losing All-Star defenseman Adam Fox and captain JT Miller, who is now out for several weeks.

Fox hasn’t played since late November due to a shoulder issue. As a result, the team’s power play has leaned heavily on a five-forward lineup.

Although he resumed skating in a non-contact jersey recently, Fox could realistically return in early January, having cleared long-term injured reserve.

Road Warriors

The Rangers continue to struggle at home, posting the worst home record in the Eastern Conference with only five wins out of 18 games. In contrast, they’re strong on the road, leading the league with 14 victories outside MSG, including a 7-3 win over Washington before the break.

Since the Islanders moved to UBS in 2021, the Rangers have managed a 4-2-0 record there.

Goaltending Insights

Despite a less-than-stellar performance recently, Igor Shesterkin enjoys a decent December, with a 6-2-1 record. Against the Islanders in November, he allowed four goals on 25 shots and holds a balanced career record of 9 wins and 9 losses in 19 games against them. This Saturday marks his 300th career NHL start.

Islanders: Also Fighting Through Injuries

Key Players Missing

Like the Rangers, the Islanders have faced their share of struggles lately, missing key players like starting goalie Ilya Sorokin and leading scorer Bo Horvat. In their last matchup against the Rangers, Sorokin earned a shutout with 24 saves while Horvat scored twice.

Sorokin is expected to be back in action on Saturday, and Horvat has begun non-contact practices. However, Kyle Palmieri remains sidelined for the season due to a torn ACL.

Raising the Bar

Mathew Barzal has been performing well, netting three goals and 11 points in December while maintaining a plus-2 rating, despite not scoring in a recent win over the Devils that ended a seven-game point streak.

First Impressions

Matthew Schaefer, the No. 1 overall draft pick, has shown promise in this rivalry, managing a plus-1 rating with over 24 minutes of ice time in his debut at the Garden, even if he didn’t score. However, he’s struggled lately, adding just one goal in his last 12 games after a strong November.

Currently, the Islanders sit at 26th in the league for power play efficiency, trailing the Rangers by eight spots. It’ll be interesting to see how things unfold in this high-stakes matchup.