Game #61: New York Islanders vs New York Rangers Open Thread

For the second time in a week, the Rangers and Islanders are set to clash in a pivotal game in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

Following the Rangers' 5-1 road victory over the Islanders on Tuesday, each team played an additional two games in the interim. Both the Rangers and Islanders earned decisive home victories over the Nashville Predators, and while the Rangers fell to the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Islanders secured a victory against the Boston Bruins. The current conference standings have the Rangers in 10th place and two points out of a Wild Card spot while the Islanders are in 14th place and five back of the cutoff line.

Although it's only been a week since the last time these teams squared off, the Islanders will be seeing a different Rangers team than the one that took the ice in Elmont at the end of February. Ryan Lindgren and Jimmy Vesey are in Colorado, with Calvin de Haan and Juuso Parssinen taking their places. Reilly Smith sat out of Sunday's game against Nashville as a healthy scratch for "roster management" purposes and will be doing so again tonight. Even as the Blueshirts appear to be in sell mode, the playoffs in still within reach, and a win against the Islanders tonight will go a long way towards getting back there.

Player to Watch: Calvin de Haan

Originally drafted by the Islanders with the 12th overall pick if the 2009 Entry Draft, de Haan's career has been a long and winding road since leaving the Islanders via free agency in 2018. The well-traveled defenseman has had two stints in Carolina with a three-year run in Chicago in between his Carolina stints, as well as spending time in Tampa Bay and Colorado prior to joining the Rangers on Saturday. It was a successful Broadway debut for de Haan as he recorded an assist in the Rangers' 4-0 victory over Nashville. It'll be a revenge spot for de Haan in his second game as a Ranger, so keep an eye on New York's newest defenseman as he experiences the Rangers/Islanders rivalry from this side for the first time.

Enjoy the game!