Improving Islanders Stun Rangers
ISLANDERS 2 – RANGERS 1 For all intents and purposes, the 2021-22 season has been a slog for the New York Islanders. They started the season 5-10-5, including losing 11…
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 17: h27#2 and the New York Rangers celebrate their 2-1 victory over Chris Kreider #20 and the New York Islanders at Madison Square Garden on March 17, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
ISLANDERS 2 - RANGERS 1
For all intents and purposes, the 2021-22 season has been a slog for the New York Islanders. They started the season 5-10-5, including losing 11 in a row. They didn't even win a home game in the brand new UBS Arena until December 11.
Like everyone else, the Isles had to deal with injuries and COVID-19 related postponements. And just now they have started to play better. A 2-1 victory over the New York Rangers (38-18-5) at the Garden on Thursday was the fifth win in its last seven games for the Islanders. New York is now 25-24-9 on the year.
“We are playing more to our identity,″ Anders Lee said. ”That was a full-team effort tonight, a great team win.”
Lee extended his goal streak to six games when he scored the opening goal of the game some 49 seconds into the second period.
After Rangers' Chris Krieder netted his 40th goal of the season late in the second period, Kyle Palmieri put the Islanders up for good, sneaking the puck past Igor Shesterkin to make it 2-1.
Shesterkin recorded 26 saves for the Rangers in defeat. His counterpart, Ilya Sorokin recorded 29 saves on 30 shots on goal. He was incredible.
