ELMONT, N.Y. — There was a quickened pace and higher intensity on the ice and more energy from the mixed crowd at UBS Arena, all traits common to the heated Islanders-Rangers’ rivalry.
The Islanders won this chapter, 3-0, in a highly entertaining contest on Wednesday night, snapping their three-game losing streak while extending the Rangers’ to four (0-2-2).
Kyle Palmieri scored his first two goals of the season, Josh Bailey scored his first for the Islanders (3-4-0) and Ilya Sorokin stopped 41 shots for his team’s first shutout of the season. Former Islander Jaroslav Halak made 26 saves for the Rangers (3-3-2), who were blanked for the first time.
But Wednesday night’s contest marked the only time these longstanding New York rivals will play in the regular season at UBS Arena.
Disappointing, right?
“Yeah, I mean, it really is,” Islanders center Mathew Barzal said. “I wish there was a couple more. I feel like it should be almost automatic having something like this a couple of times a year. Just spread out. Just good games. Good for the game of hockey. Good for New York sports.”
“These games are fun, energetic,” Islanders center Brock Nelson said. “Great atmosphere as the fans get into them. A lot of energy, a lot of excitement. So if it is only one at home, it’s disappointing but out of our control.”
The Islanders play the Rangers twice at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 8 and Dec. 22, meaning the regular-season series between these rivals is over by Christmas with more than three months left to play.
“Well, put it this way, rivalry games just add to the excitement of the moment,” Islanders coach Lane Lambert said. “The fans are into it. The players are into it. The players are into every game. But fans generate a lot of energy and that’s all part of it.”
The Islanders killed off two power plays to start the second period and another in the third period – they are 25-for-25 this season – and took a 1-0 lead at 8:44 of the second period as Palmieri collected the puck in the slot and snapped a shot past Halak.
Bailey, playing in his 999th NHL game, all with the Islanders, made it 2-0 at 5:37 of the third period, circling to the right post to deflect defenseman Adam Pelech’s shot.
Palmieri, again from the slot, extended the Islanders’ lead to 3-0 at 15:22 of the third period.
The game’s pace was set on breakneck from the opening faceoff, even with the Rangers coming off Tuesday night’s 3-2 shootout loss to the Avalanche with an 8 p.m. faceoff.
The Islanders generated offensive-zone time but rarely made Halak work hard for his saves. Per Natural Stat Trick, the Rangers had seven high-danger chances over the opening 20 minutes skating five-on-five to the Islanders’ none.
Two were obvious. Sorokin had to stretch his right pad to deny call-up Julien Gauthier’s backhander at the crease at 2:06 after he had skated around defenseman Sebastian Aho. And at 14:24, Sorokin somehow reached back with his arm to keep Kaapo Kakko’s in-tight shot from crossing the goal line.
Notes & quotes: The Islanders placed former first-round pick Kieffer Bellows on waivers. He can be re-assigned to their AHL affiliate in Bridgeport if he clears. The Islanders may be looking to create a roster spot for a seventh defenseman before traveling to face the Hurricanes on Friday night…Anthony Beauvillier returned to the Islanders’ lineup after being a healthy scratch in Sunday’s 3-2 road loss to the Panthers…Defenseman Adam Pelech and Jean-Gabriel Pageau each had two assists for the Islanders…Bellows, Ross Johnston and Nikita Soshnikov were the healthy scratches against the Rangers.
