Rangers vs. Islanders: Rangers Get Shutout Second Straight Game Against Isles
The New York Rangers were shutout for the second consecutive game this evening as they were defeated 3-0 by the New York Islanders. The Rangers were missing two important pieces to their lineup tonight as both Chris Kreider and Ryan Lindgren were sidelined with injuries. Alexandar Georgiev got the start in goal tonight in hopes of continuing his strong play against the Islanders, but didn’t get much help from the team in front of him.
1st Period
Anthony Beauvillier (12) - Josh Bailey (22) & Nick Leddy (27) - 4:39
Right from the opening faceoff, the Islanders controlled the play through the neutral zone and were able to capitalize on an early mistake. Nick Leddy and Josh Bailey carved up the Rangers as they weaved through the neutral zone and entered the offensive zone with ease. Ryan Strome’s critical mistake of following the puck left Anthony Beauvillier wide open as he trailed the play, and Josh Bailey recognized it immediately. Beauvillier was able collect the puck and fire a quick shot past Alexandar Georgiev’s blocker hand to give the Isles an early lead.
Mathew Barzal (15) - Josh Bailey (23) - 16:22
There was a brief moment of back and forth hockey, but it wouldn’t take long for the Islanders to generate high quality chance the other way. Josh Bailey made a great play to poke the puck up ice as Brendan Smith was pinching down to keep the play alive. Bailey’s poke pushed the puck all the way out to center ice, where Mathew Barzal was waiting on a partial breakaway. Barzal was able to beat K’Andre Miller with his speed and flipped the puck past Georgiev on his backhand.
2nd Period
Anthony Beauvillier (13) - Brock Nelson (13) & Josh Bailey (24) - 1:02
Early on in the second period, the Islanders went right back to work with their quick transition play and burnt the Rangers for a third time. In nearly identical fashion to his first goal, Anthony Beauvillier was able to pull back a snap shot and beat Alexandar Georgiev on the blocker side once again. K’Andre Miller was unable to close the gap quick enough, and the Islanders took a commanding 3-0 lead early in the second period.
3rd Period
No scoring.
It was another miserable night all around the lineup, as the Rangers failed to generate much of anything on the offensive side of the puck. The Islanders were able to jump out to a quick 2-0 in the first period, and just clamped the Rangers down defensively for the remainder of the game. This loss combined with the Boston Bruins winning earlier this afternoon, pretty much puts the Rangers playoff hopes to rest as they sit eight points behind the Bruins with four games remaining on the schedule.
Following another crushing loss, the Rangers will head back home for a meeting with the Washington Capitals on Monday night.
