Tonight at 7 p.m. ET, the New York Islanders (28-13-1, 57 points) and New York Rangers (24-11-4, 52 points) face-off for the second of five meetings this season live from Madison Square Garden in New York City. The game can be live streamed here. Islanders fans can hear all of the action on WRHU 88.7 while Rangers fans can do the same on WEPN 98.7.
The Islanders have won two straight games and close out a seven-match road trip they are 4-2 on thus far while the Rangers have won five consecutive contests and 12 of 13 overall as they return home from a 3-0 swing through California.
The first time these two teams met, the Isles topped the Blueshirts 6-3 on Oct. 14. The Islanders lead the Metropolitan Division while the Rangers are just five points behind them and hold three games in hand. The Blueshirts also hold the top wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.
The Islanders are coming off of a 5-2 defeat of the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday and are ready to take the intense rivalry to the Garden ice tonight.
"It's still one of 82 and there's still a lot of games to go, but you definitely take these games like playoff games with the intensity they're played with," captain John Tavares said via NHL.com.
Tavares leads the Islanders with 39 points off of 19 goals and 20 assists while Kyle Okposo has nine markers and 28 helpers for 37 points and Ryan Strome has found the back of the net seven times and added 23 assists for 30 points.
The Rangers roll in off of a 3-1 defeat of the San Jose Sharks on Saturday and look forward to a raucous Garden crowd.
"There is definitely a lot of excitement right now in the air in this building," coach Alain Vigneault told NHL.com. "Two teams that are playing well. We both need the points. It's so competitive right now. They're the best in our [division] and we're looking forward to the matchup."
Rick Nash has driven the Rangers as he is tied for the NHL lead with 26 goals and leads the team with 41 points. Derick Brassard is second on the team with 11 tallies and 22 helpers for 33 points while Martin St. Louis has lit the lamp 14 times and added 18 assists for 32 points.
In net, the Blueshirts turn to Henrik Lundqvist, who has been red-hot and is 20-8-3 with a 2.26 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage. Lundqvist is also second in the NHL with five shutouts.
The Isles will counter with Jaroslav Halak in the crease and he is tied for third in the NHL with 22 wins and three shutouts and has added a 2.29 GAA and a .914 save percentage.
It's a battle of New York pride between two of the NHL's hottest teams when the Islanders visit the Rangers tonight at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
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