Rivarly Night, Gm 58: Islanders vs. Rangers, Game Notes & More

After an eight-round shootout marathon in the 4-3 loss to Washington Capitals on Tuesday, the New York Islanders (24-24-9) head to New York City to face their rivals, the New York Rangers (38-17-5) at Madison Square Garden. Puck drop is slated for 7 PM.

“There’s been a lot of great battles between us and you know, we don’t like each other. It doesn’t matter who’s on the other side. If you have friends that you played with in the past, it doesn’t matter,” Casey Cizikas said following Thursday’s morning skate. “This game is a big one and it’s one that we always have circled.”

Two players were missing from New York Islanders optional morning skate, in Adam Pelech and Scott Mayfield, but head coach Barry Trotz said, “We have no one that’s injured right now.”

Ilya Sorokin was the first goaltender off the ice at morning skate as he will make his 40th start of the season Thursday night. For the Rangers, the expectation is that fellow Russian, and best friend of Sorokin, Igor Shesterkin will be in goal.

It was the same lineup from Tuesday for the New York Islanders.

NEW YORK ISLANDERS LINEUP (PROJECTED)

Lee-Nelson-Beauvillier

Bailey–Pageau–Palmieri

Parise-Barzal-Wahlstrom

Johnston–Cizikas–Clutterbuck

Pelech–Pulock

Chara–Dobson

Greene–Mayfield

Sorokin

Varlamov

NEW YORK RANGERS LINEUP (PROJECTED)

Kreider–Zibanejad–LaFreniere

Panarin–Strome–Hunt

Goodrow–Chytil–Vatrano

Gauthier–McKegg–Reaves

Lindgren–Fox

Miller–Trouba

Nemeth–Schneider

Shesterkin

Georgiev

ISLANDERS GAME NOTES

The New York Islanders visit the New York Rangers tonight in the second of four matchups between the two clubs this season. The last time these teams met was November 24, 2021 at UBS Arena.

The Islanders have not visited the Rangers since last season, on April 29, 2021, when Scott Mayfield and Brock Nelson each recorded multi-point games to help the Islanders win 4-0 at Madison Square Garden.

Tonight is the Islanders second of three Metropolitan Division matchups they will play in six days. Since they last played the Rangers on November 24, they are 5-2-1 in division play.

WHO’S HOT?

New York Islanders forward Anders Lee has eight goals and an assist over his last five contests and is riding a five-game goal streak. Forward Kyle Palmieri has goals in three straight games and points in five straight.

New York Rangers forward Artemi Panarin has a five-game point streak with one goal and 11 assists. Forward Mika Zibanejad has three goals and two assists over his last five games.

BETTING CORNER

The New York Islanders are the road underdogs against the New York Rangers tonight, coming in at +120. They are -210 on the reverse puck line. The Rangers come in at -140 and +175 on the puck line.

The over for this game is set at 5.5, with the over at -105 and the under at -115. These lines are subject to change.

HOW TO WATCH:

Thursday’s contest will be available on MSG (Rangers) and MSG+ (Islanders).  On the radio dial, the game can be heard on 1050 AM ESPN, 88.7 FM WRHU and 103.9 FM LI News Radio.