Game Preview: Islanders at Rangers

Cory Wright / NYIslanders.com

NEW YORK ISLANDERS (23-14-4) AT NEW YORK RANGERS (17-18-7)

7 PM | MADISON SQUARE GARDEN

WATCH: MSG+2, MSG, MSG GO, NHL.TV

LISTEN: 660AM/101.9FM WFAN | 88.7FM WRHU | 103.9FM LI NEWS | RADIO.COM/ISLANDERS


SEASON SERIES: SERIES TIED 1-1-0

The home team has won each of the first two meetings between the Islanders and Rangers this season. The Islanders won the first meeting 7-5 at Barclays Center on Nov. 15, while the Rangers won the rematch 5-0 on Nov. 21.

ISLANDERS NOTES:

-   The Islanders six-game winning streak was snapped on Tuesday night against Carolina. The Isles are looking to get back on track on Thursday.

-   Thursday's game kicks off a home-and-home set against the Rangers, with the two teams meeting again on Saturday afternoon at Barclays Center. These are the final two meetings of the season between the crosstown rivals.

-   The Islanders (50 points) are one point back of the Montreal Canadiens (51 points) for the second wild card berth, and one point back of the Columbus Blue Jackets (51 points) for third in the Metropolitan Division.

-   Robin Lehner is currently on a career-high, seven-game winning streak. Lehner has allowed only 13 goals in his last 10 games (7-1-2, 1.34 GAA, .952 save percentage).

-   The Islanders power play is 1-for-9 over the team's past four games.

-   Brock Nelson has six points (3G, 3A) in his last five games, including a three-point night on Tuesday vs Carolina.

-   Mathew Barzal has 11 points (3G, 8A) in six career games vs the Rangers. Anthony Beauvillier has 12 points (6G, 6A) in eight games vs the Rangers.

RANGERS NOTES:

-   The Rangers have lost four straight games by a combined score of 22-5. Overall the Rangers are 3-5-2 in their last 10 games.

-   Mika Zibanejad leads the Rangers with 35 points (12G, 23A) in 42 games this season. Zibanejad and Kevin Hayes are tied for the team lead in assists (23).

-   Henrik Lundqvist was pulled in each of his last two starts after allowing six and five goals, respectively. Lundqvist, the Rangers all-star representative, is 12-11-7 this season with a 3.04 GAA and a .909 SV%.

-   The Rangers (41 points) are 10 points back of a playoff spot, while also trailing behind the Florida Panthers (41 points), Carolina Hurricanes (45 points) and the Islanders (50 points).

-   The Rangers are 1-1-5 on home ice since the start of December.