In recent memories, there was not much New York battle that had as many playoff impacts as the last couple game between the Rangers and the Islanders.
And for the second time in a week, the Blues Shirts claimed himself in the Eastern Conference Postseason race, in a decisive 4-0 victory over the Islanders, one of several teams competing for the playoff spot, to move to tie against the second wildcard spot, the Red Wings.
Both methods have been important to the winner.
The fact that it was the second game before the trading deadline for both teams added to the size.
The Islanders separated by one point the six closest teams they were looking at from the outside in their postseason brackets, three points behind the Bluesshirts entering the game.
The gap has swelled to five as the Rangers won their fourth victory in the last five games.
In a showdown between the two-star New York goaltenders, Rangers Igor Shesterkin came out on top of Islander Ilya Sorokin and in a 20th round performance, Jonathan posted a quick on the night before, and then won the team for the second straight win.
It was a solid all-around performance from the Rangers who were competing on the second night of the back-to-back schedule.
Islander head coach Patrick Roy chose to go with 11 forwards and seven defensive men, moving forward with Pierre Enval and Anthony Duclair.
They have lost seven of their past eight meetings with the Rangers.
The Rangers weren't exactly the strength in the first 20 minutes, but after the lucky and shorthand opportunities of the pack, they still took a 2-0 lead.
Technically, the islanders were the first to find the back of the net, but when Anders Lee took one of Rangers goalkeeper Igor Shesterkin from a sturdy angle.
The Rangers tried offside and managed to keep the game scoreless with 8:24 left in the frame.
Zach Jones' shot deflected into the air and bouncing off Quiel's helmet, actually starting to score.
JT Miller, who scored a second assist in play, extended his point streak into six games.
The Rangers were called to have too many men on the ice for the second time during the period, giving them the second most of the nine seasons.
Sam Carrick led a predatory rush and dropped the pack for Will Borgen.
After avoiding the islanders in the second period, Miller added another to make it 3-0 game with a shot from the right circle.
He gave him a second straight 2-point game after he scored a second assist on Quill's score early in the night.
Miller scored six two-point efforts (7 goals, seven assists) in his first 11 games against the Rangers.
Artemi Panarin's empty netter remains in regulation for more than 5 minutes.
