Islanders complete season sweep with win against Rangers

"Long Island Faceoff" Staff Report

The Islanders completed their first-ever season sweep
against the New York Rangers with a 4-1 victory on
Thursday night. (Getty Images)

The New York Islanders on Thursday night copleted their first-ever season sweep against the New York Rangers with a 4-1 victory at Madison Squre Garden last night.

The Islanders are now 4-0-0 against the Rangers this season.
  
"It's definitely fun beating those guys," said Islanders center Casey Cizikas, who scored the game-winning goal. "It's a tough game every single time we play them. It's fast, it's gritty and it's everything hockey is about. It's fun playing them, and getting the two points makes it even more exciting."

In the game, the Islanders were without forward Cal Clutterbuck, who missed his second game with a lower-body injury, Travis Hamonic, who has been out since March 31, and goaltener Jaroslav Halak, who was injured on March 8 and will miss at least two more weeks of playing time.

Shane Prince, Casey Cizikas, Frans Nielsen, and John Tavares scored for the Islanders, while Kevin Klein scored for the Rangers.

Thomas Greiss made 36 saves for the Islanders, while Henrik Lundqvist made 13 saves for the Rangers before being pulled and replaced by Antti Raanta, who made six saves for te Islanders, while Henrik Lundqvist made 13 saves for the Rangers before being pulled and rhe Rangers.

The Rangers out-shot the Islanders 37-23.

GAME NOTES
Officials:
Referees: Dan O'Rourke, Gord Dwyer
Linesmen: Scott Driscoll, Brad Kovachik

Head Coaches:
Jack Capuano (New York Islanders)
Alain Vigneault (New York Rangers)

New York Islanders Scratches: Jean-Francois Berube, Cal Clutterbuck, Mikhail Grabovski, Jaroslav Halak, Travis Hamonic, Matt Martin, Scott Mayfield, Brian Strait

New York Rangers Scratches: Dan Girardi, Oscar Lindberg, Ryan McDonagh