Islanders Play Rangers Twice During 2022-23 Preseason, 2nd at UBS Arena

It has not even been 24 hours since the Colorado Avalanche hoisted the 2022 Stanley Cup. Still, we have some information regarding the New York Islanders 2022-23 preseason schedule courtesy of the New York Rangers.

The cross-town rivals will battle it out on Monday, Sept. 26, at Madison Square Garden, with the start time at 7 PM. And for the first time in the history of UBS Arena, they will be hosting a preseason game, with the first installment of Islanders-Rangers preseason on Saturday, Oct. 8 at 7 PM.

🚨 PRESEASON SCHEDULE DROP 🚨

Full details: https://t.co/QwA5taXUSJ pic.twitter.com/b7rkLAuv4C

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) June 27, 2022

What’s interesting about this is that at least one of these rivalry games is usually played at either team’s AHL affiliate, whether in Hartford at the Wolfpack’s home arena (XL Center) or at the Bridgeport Islanders arena (Total Mortgage Arena).

With UBS Arena not ready for NHL action until Game 14 of the 2021-22 regular season, all of the New York Islanders home preseason games were played in Bridgeport.

There was no choice there.

With the shortened 2020-21 campaign, there were no preseason games.

The Islanders have played the Rangers annually in Bridgeport since 2017.

The last time the Islanders hosted the Rangers at their home rink in preseason was 2016.

The New York Islanders were 0-2-0 against the Rangers at UBS this past season, winning both their games on Madison Square Garden ice. Although the game will not count on Oct. 8, the New York Islanders faithful will still be hoping that their team can get it done at UBS Arena and head into the regular season with confidence.

As of now, these are the only two Islanders preseason games that we are aware of. There are definitely more, and I would be shocked if at least one home game is not played in Bridgeport. Then again, all Rangers preseason games are at MSG, none in Hartford.