RANGERS AT ISLANDERS GAME DAY PREVIEW 2/15

BATTLE OF NEW YORK RAGES ON

New York Rangers (27-25-5) vs New York Islanders (27-25-6)

TONIGHT 7:00 PM TV: MSG, MSG+2 RADIO: ESPN NY 98.7 FM

Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY

Tonight the Rangers look to move out of the basement and pick up two important points in the standings when they battle with crosstown rival New York Islanders for 7th place in the Metro Division. The Islanders hold a slim one point lead over the Rangers in a tight Metro standings.

This is the third of four meeting between the two teams this season with the Rangers having come out on the short end with two home losses. In the first meeting the Rangers fell 4-3 in the shootout back on October 19. David Desharnais, Mats Zuccarello and Kevin Hayes tallied the Rangers 3 goals while Henrik Lundqvist stopped 38 shots. The second loss was lopsided in favor of the Islanders 7-2 back on January 13. Kevin Hayes once again picked up a goal in the loss along with Pavel Buchnevich. Ondrej Pavelec started the game and surrendered 5 goals on 19 shots until replaced by Henrik Lundqvist who stopped 18 of 20 shots giving up two tallies.

The Rangers are coming off a 3-2 loss on Tuesday to the Minnesota Wild, a game in which they had mental lapses early and just fell short in a comeback bid. The same lineup should take the ice led by Henrik Lundqvist with back to back games coming up on Saturday and Sunday. Backup Alexander Georgiev might make his Rangers either Saturday against Ottawa or at home vs Philadelphia. The Rangers, 59 points need these two points desperately to salvage any chance of making a playoff with the Isles (60), Blue Jackets (62) and the Hurricanes (63) who hold the final wild card spot all within reach.

The Islanders led by leading scorer John Tavares (29 goals, 63 points) come into the contest off a 4-1 loss to the Blue Jackets on Tuesday and have only won one of their last five games. Jaroslav Halak is expected to get the start tonight.

IR UPDATE:

Chris Kreider and Pavel Buchnevich made their way back to the Rangers practice Ice wearing no contact jerseys. Kreider who was taken off blood thinners this week is said to be 2-4 weeks away from a return after missing the last 20 games due to a blood clot. Buchnevich is still dealing with concussion protocol and has not played since February 1st. In other injury news Captain Ryan McDonagh remains day to day with an upper body injury but is said to be coming along. Marc Staal has been skating on his own but no timetable has been set for his return from a cervical strain. Long term IR Kevin Shattenkirk who had knee surgery is off crutches.

GAME DAY TEAM LEADERS:

Rangers

POINTS: Mats Zuccarello 40

GOALS: Michael Grabner 23

ASSISTS: Mats Zuccarello 31

Islanders

POINTS: John Tavares 63

GOALS: John Tavares 29

ASSISTS: Josh Bailey 47

Rangers Injuries: Kevin Shattenkirk (knee surgery), Chris Kreider (blood clot), Ryan McDonagh (upper body), Pavel Buchnevich (concussion), Marc Staal (cervical strain), Steven Kampfer (fractured hand)