Rangers Struggle in Season Against Islanders
For the first time in almost eight years, the Rangers concluded a season without winning any games against the Islanders. It’s one thing to win a series, but the manner in which the Rangers lost these games indicates a shift in their heated rivalry.
Thursday’s match at Madison Square Garden ended in a narrow 2-1 defeat, marking it as the closest contest this season. However, the Rangers had suffered a significant loss previously, with a lopsided score of 14-3 over the four games they played against the Islanders.
Head coach Mike Sullivan commented after the latest home defeat, which dropped the Rangers to a disappointing 6-14-4 record on their own rink this season. “We’re emphasizing the need for more shots on goal, regardless of whether we’re at 5-on-5 or 4-on-4,” Sullivan explained. “We need to simplify our game. Getting into the right spots can lead to better opportunities. Rebounds can create chances if we can apply pressure.”
“We’ve got to improve our awareness about when to make plays, and we also need to push harder to get inside against defenders. When we do, we often generate chances, but we need more consistency in that aspect,” he added.
Sullivan went on to note that this approach could potentially lead to more goals, create opportunities, and draw penalties, given that defending the scoring area is often the toughest challenge for opposing teams.
In their encounters, the Rangers faced tough competition, losing two out of four games against the Islanders, including an embarrassing 5-0 defeat in their initial matchup.
This season has taken a youthful turn for the Rangers. Brett Berard, in his 13th NHL game, highlighted the young roster, which now includes four others: Gabe Perreault, Brennan Osman, Scott Morrow, and Matthew Robertson.
After a particularly rough outing for his AHL team, where he received four stitches for a cut on his eyelid, Berard made his way up to Manhattan. “I feel I’ve been finding my groove in Hartford over recent weeks,” he shared. “I’m utilizing my strengths and playing with pace and intensity. It’s been encouraging to see others creating chances as well.”
This recall came after Berard’s previous stint during the Winter Classic just a few weeks ago. At 23, this is already his second call-up of the season, having played 11 games earlier from late November to mid-December.
Although he didn’t score any points during those 11 games and registered just 10 shots, Berard reflected on his performance. “I thought I was doing alright initially, but I felt I hit a bit of a wall. I wasn’t getting enough pucks on net, so returning to Hartford helped boost my confidence. I feel ready now.”
Placed on the fourth line, he finally made his 48th NHL appearance. Originally the 134th overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, Berard has consistently found himself in the team’s bottom six this season.
Jotting down his performance, goaltender Jonathan Quick had another solid outing, saving 19 of 21 shots in what was his 17th start of the season.
Looking ahead, the Rangers have a day off before facing the Penguins in Pittsburgh on Saturday.
