NEW YORK _ Rangers-Islanders is always going to be big, regardless of where either team is in the standings. And those games are always going to be bigger in NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum than anywhere else. But the games are always better when both teams need a win, as both did Thursday night.
Chris Kreider is one of only three Rangers who had played in this building before, and Kreider delivered big-time for the Rangers when he banged in the rebound of a shot by Mika Zibanejad on the power play with 24.6 seconds to play to give the Rangers a stunning 3-2 victory over the Isles, their second win over their rivals this week.
Former Ranger Derick Brassard took a cross-checking penalty against Jesper Fast with 53.5 seconds remaining and Kreider punished his old teammate and the Islanders by scoring his 16th goal of the season to give the Rangers (23-19-4) their fourth win in the last five games.
