Rangers blanked by rival Islanders as four-game winning streak snapped

For a matchup that’s commonly referred to as the Battle of New York, there wasn’t much action. 

And one can count on the Islanders to thrive in games like that. 

The Rangers were shut out for just the fourth time this season in a 3-0 loss to the Islanders on Friday night at the Garden, with one more meeting scheduled between the two on April 21 on Long Island. 

The next meeting is sure to be more exciting than Friday night was, but that’s a low bar to clear. 

Top-line center Mathew Barzal led the Islanders with the third and final goal of the night, as well as the primary assist on Matt Martin’s 2-0 score in the second period. His completely uncontested drive to the net less than three minutes into the third encapsulated how things went for the Rangers on Friday. 

Gerard Gallant even pulled Igor Shesterkin with 7:40 left in regulation, though the Rangers coach put the star goalie back in net for the ensuing defensive zone faceoff. 

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Islanders netminder Semyon Varlamov turned aside all 27 shots he faced in his second shutout of the season, while Shesterkin allowed three goals on a season-low shots against total (18) for a full-game appearance. 

The loss snapped a four-game winning streak for the Rangers, who are now at risk of being surpassed in the Metropolitan Divisions standings should the Penguins prevail against the Avalanche on Saturday afternoon. 

In addition to doubling their lead to 2-0 in the second period, the Islanders tightened up on defense and kept the Rangers at a comfortable distance. The three high-sticking penalties through two periods — en route to four total infractions on the night — did not help the Rangers, either. 

After a Rangers turnover in the offensive zone, the Islanders sent the play the other way and top-line center Barzal fed Martin for the two-goal lead just under five minutes into the middle frame. The Islanders had scored two goals on just six shots at that point. 

The Rangers’ laboratory on ice is still in full effect, with Gallant switching lines up by the halfway point of the game. He put Filip Chytil up in the middle of Artemi Panarin and Andrew Copp, while Dryden Hunt dropped down to the right wing of Alexis Lafreniere and Barclay Goodrow. 

The first period saw the Islanders pull ahead 1-0 despite the Rangers holding a 7-5 edge in shots on goal. Isles defenseman Ryan Pulock fed Casey Cizikas on the doorstep for a wide-open tap-in, which the Rangers’ Patrik Nemeth couldn’t get a good enough stick on just under three minutes into the game. 

Despite two power-play opportunities for the Rangers in the first, the Islanders didn’t let the home team set up in their lethal formation. The Islanders were fortunate to come away with a lead, considering the Rangers hit a couple of posts and were often denied by Varlamov.