Rangers 3, Islanders 2 (SO)

The Rangers emerged from game #81 of the 23/24 regular season with a shootout victory over their hated cross East River rivals, the NY Islanders, 3-2. This was not the preferred outcome of the game but it was essential to get two points, which they did.

There was no scoring in the first period. However, penalties from the first period set up the first goal of the game early in the second. Huh, you say? At 16:47 of the first, Goodrow took a some what questionable holding penalty behind the NYR net. The penalty was killed successfully at 18:47 only to have Kakko take a high sticking penalty (with ketchup) resulting in a 4 minute double minor at 19:31.

Thus the Rangers started the second on the PK and had two of the first three shot attempts. Just before the Kakko penalty expired, Lindgren was called for a two minute boarding at 03:19, giving the Islanders a brief 5 on 3 advantage. Thinking this would lead to a sure goal, the Islanders even called a timeout. It did not. A little over a minute into the Lindgren penalty, and after getting Kakko back, the Rangers had the Islanders right where they wanted them: tired out from being on the power play!

Nelson commited an offensive zone turnover which Kreider picked up, skated over the blue and red lines before dropping the puck off to BFF Zibanejad who skated it into the Islander zone. Zibanejad then connected with the stealthily trailing Schneider, coming into the center of the zone. Schneider (5) immediately put a shot on goal, continued to skate to the net and put in his own rebound. Zibanejad (45) and Kreider (34) with the primary and secondary assists. 1-0 NYR.

Nelson giveth and Nelson taketh. Vesey turned the puck over in the defensive zone near the blue line to Nelson, who passed it to Fasching who then hit Palmieri in the slot. Palmieri’s shot was blocked and deflected into the corner where Nelson (31) picked up the puck and put a bad angle shot past Shesterkin, sprawled out on the ice still from the Palmieri attempt. 1-1 at 11:42.

With 0:28 left in the second, the Rangers once again displayed their inability to get out of the last minute of a period unscathed. Nelson (32) again, with Fasching and Palmieri swapping assists. Schneider was on Nelson behind the net, Miller on Fasching. Fasching attempted to get the puck to Nelson on the wall but Schneider got his stick on it first, attempted to get the puck to the corner but instead it deflected off of Fasching’s skate directly to Nelson. Nelson quickly took the puck around the net, beating Shesterkin on the wrap around. 2-1 NYI after two.

The Rangers looked frustrated for much of the third, unable to get shots past the Islander defense or Sorokin. That is, until a face off at 15:41, won by Trocheck (52). The puck came out to Panarin(48) who immediately snapped a shot between two Islanders, beating Sorokin to tie the game at 2. Though the Rangers had a few more chances, the game would go to overtime.

OT was an exercise in futuility for the Rangers. The usual pass, pass, pass and a glorious open net missed by Trocheck and a last second give away by Panarin for a shot by Barzal that Shesterkin saved. On to the shootout!

Panarin was up first and beat Sorokin with a wrister from 13 feet. Palmieri, Zibanejad and Nelson would all be stopped. Trocheck then won it in round three. Final 3-2 NYR.

Postgame, Panarin had this to say about breaking a stick while on the bench and his third period goal:

“I was a little pissed because we couldn’t score. Real emotion, just can’t keep it in. And I have a bunch of sticks this year. [The goal] was unbelievable, especially when the crowd went like that, can’t buy that for any money.”

Panarin

Perhaps he’ll send his next check back to Dolan? 🤣

By failing to win the game in regulation, Carolina now has the tiebreaker as they will have one more RW than the Rangers, should the division come down to that. For the Bruins to win the conference they will need to win out (three games) and have the Hurricanes and Rangers tie at 112 points. If Carolina wins their last two games against Chicago and Columbus, the Rangers MUST win their final game, in any fashion, to win the Metro division (and also the Eastern conference). This team just does not like to make things easy on themselves, do they?

Up next, Ottawa at MSG, Monday night at 7:30 PM EDT on MSG. The late start may be related to Fan Appreciation Night.