The New York Rangers secured a crucial 3-2 shootout win over the New York Islanders on Saturday, edging three points ahead of the Carolina Hurricanes in the Metropolitan Division. The victory, fueled by a game-winning goal from Vincent Trocheck, also set a franchise record with 54 regular-season wins. Igor Shesterkin played a pivotal role with 34 saves in regulation and two more in the shootout, outdueling Islanders’ goalie Ilya Sorokin. Despite the loss, the Islanders earned a valuable point, further solidifying their playoff hopes.
While the Rangers celebrated the win, the Islanders remained optimistic, knowing their playoff chances were still strong despite their six-game win streak being broken. Going into the evening, the Islanders could have clinched a playoff spot if Detroit and Washington lost. While both teams won, the Islanders’ postseason berth seemed inevitable unless a remarkable series of events occurred. Ryan Pulock acknowledged the importance of securing a point in a game that had the intensity of playoff hockey.
The Rangers had to fight back after a rough second period, where they lost the lead and struggled to generate offense. Their usual resilience came to the forefront in the third period. The Islanders had a golden opportunity to increase their lead when Artemi Panarin took down Adam Pelech on a breakaway, leading to a penalty shot. Shesterkin’s glove save preserved the 2-1 scoreline and set the stage for the Rangers’ comeback.
Panarin later tied the game with a wrist shot, following Shesterkin’s crucial saves. The game continued into a thrilling overtime period, where both teams traded chances, including a dramatic save by Shesterkin on Mathew Barzal. In the shootout, Shesterkin denied Kyle Palmieri and Brock Nelson, while Panarin and Trocheck scored for the Rangers, securing the win. This marked a significant bounce-back performance after their loss to the Islanders earlier in the week.
For the Islanders, their inability to capitalize on power plays was a key factor in their defeat. They allowed a shorthanded goal to Braden Schneider during an extended five-on-four power play in the second period. Although they regained the lead thanks to two goals from Brock Nelson, the Islanders’ inability to threaten on the power play ultimately cost them the game. With Noah Dobson’s injury and their six-game win streak broken, the Islanders must avoid chaos to secure a playoff spot. Meanwhile, the Rangers’ victory restored their momentum as they head into the final game of the regular season with confidence.
