Introduction to the Game
ELMONT, N.Y. — Brett Berard and the New York Rangers had been here before. They’ve held leads of varying degrees, taken their foot off the pedal, and watched games slip away in front of them. It’s one of the reasons why the club is on track to miss the playoffs for the first time since 2021, following a three-year stretch that included two trips to the Conference Final and a Presidents’ Trophy.
The Game Unfolds
It looked like it could happen again Thursday night on Long Island, as they extended their second-period lead to 5–0, in complete control. Time and time again this season, the Rangers have unraveled defensively over the stretch of games, often blowing leads in the process. On Thursday, they allowed the Islanders, one of the NHL’s worst offensive teams, 20 shots on Igor Shesterkin in the middle frame. But only one of those got through Shesterkin, who made 44 saves. Then, the Blueshirts came out firing in the third period to put the game away. They matched their first-period output with another four goals en route to a 9–2 rout, which solidified their first season sweep of the Islanders in 20 years.
Berard’s Impact
“When you take your foot off for a second like we did in the second,” said Berard, “we kind of got leaned on. A big adjustment for us going into the third was to go full throttle.” Berard scored twice and played an instrumental part in the Rangers’ four-goal third-period deluge. His fifth and sixth goals of the season caused the Islanders to change their goalie twice, replacing the struggling Marcus Högberg with Tristan Lennox, and back again.
Historic Offensive Outburst
From their stars to their depth forwards, it seemed like everyone on the Rangers made an impact. Ten different Rangers finished with multiple points — the first time that’s happened since Oct. 24, 1979. And each Rangers skater was at least a plus-1. The Cuylle–J.T. Miller–Mika Zibanejad line set the tone early, scoring the first two goals in the first period — the first of which resulted from a between-the-legs drop pass from Cuylle to Miller as the Rangers entered the zone. Artemi Panarin and Vincent Trocheck combined for the next two.
Making Every Win Count
Shesterkin was excellent Thursday. He held the Islanders at bay with a number of key saves, and got some help from his posts. “Defensemen did a great job in front of me,” he said about holding off the Islanders’ second-period pressure. “I didn’t have too much screens today, so most of the shots was outside of the high danger zone.” The heavy Rangers crowd at UBS Arena chanted his name — “Igor! Igor” — throughout the night, as they often do at Madison Square Garden during home games. Shesterkin said the atmosphere was amazing and that the players appreciated the support.
Conclusion
The Rangers understand that their playoff hopes for this season are all but finished. Barring an inconceivable collapse by the Montreal Canadiens, who are firmly in the driver’s seat of the second Wild Card spot with a six-point lead on the Rangers and a game in hand, New York will finish below the cut line. “We’re still in it,” said Berard. “It’s in other teams’ hands now, but we still got to do our part. It doesn’t happen if we don’t win.” The Rangers play for their families, for their fans right now, and they need to make them a little bit happy.
FAQs
For more on the Rangers, visit AMNY.com
Q: Who led the Rangers in scoring?
A: Brett Berard scored twice and played a crucial role in the Rangers’ victory.
Q: What was the final score of the game?
A: The Rangers won 9-2 against the Islanders.
Q: How many saves did Igor Shesterkin make?
A: Shesterkin made 44 saves in the game.
Q: What is the Rangers’ current playoff status?
A: The Rangers’ playoff hopes are all but finished, with the Montreal Canadiens having a significant lead in the Wild Card spot.
