Three significant things to watch for in the Rangers Vs Islanders game: Playoff race intensifies
Photo credit: New York Islanders Hockey now
The New York Rangers and New York Islanders are eternal enemies, as they share the state. As deadly rivals, there are three things you should look for during tonight's game.
The New York Rangers and New York Islanders will meet for the third time this season in MSG.
The bout will serve as a backdrop to the struggles the Rangers face as they vie for a spot in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
But they'll need to make it as a wild card contender this time, as the team has failed to perform up to expectations.
The Rangers (30-26-4, 64 points) trail the Detroit Red Wings, holders of the second wild card in the East, by two points and are tied with the Ottawa Senators and Boston Bruins for ninth place.
The Rangers have a decent streak going with a 14-7-3 record, which is a turnaround from the beginning of the season's 4-15-0.
Now, they'll have a chance to win 2 points in regulation and defeat a rival in the Metropolitan Division.
What are three things to look for tonight?
Igor vs Ilya
Igor Shesterkin will have to take Ilya Sorokin up on his goalie goal challenge and hope he gets enough support from his teammates in order to force an empty net situation.
The friendship between Shesterkin and Sorokin is well-known and perhaps even more so after Saturday. Sorokin was credited with an empty-net goal to become the 17th different goalie to score in an NHL game and joked about beating Shesterkin to the achievement.
When the Rangers have 4 or more goal scorers, they have a 19-3-3 record, and in order for Shesterkin to become the 18th goalie goal scorer in the league the Rangers will need to play beyond expectations.
Mika Zibanejad and JT Miller
Mika Zibanejad and JT Miller have found chemistry, as he's set up two goals for Miller, and drew penalties that would lead to goals on the man advantage by his linemate.
The veteran Rangers forward has three goals and six assists on a six-game point streak. Zibanejed also has four goals and 15 points in his past 10 games, most in the NHL since Feb. 1.
While Miller is running hot, Zibanejad's resurgence could be short-lived as he could score the least amount of his entire career since 2017-2018, where he finished with 47.
The two have found the chemistry that has turned into significant scoring chances, while Miller stays on a five-game points streak.
Rempe, Rempe
Matt Rempe delivered an elbow to Nick Blankengburg on Saturday and engaged in a bloody tilt with defenseman Andreas Englund.
The elbow happened after a significant period of time from the egregious hit on Miro Heiskanen on December 20th.
This is disappointing as he's chosen to play smart hockey recently. But he's somehow managed to escape the gaze of George Parros and the DOPS.
Will he be so lucky next time despite being a repeat offender?
Previously on NYRangersInsider
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