N.Y. Rangers vs. N.Y. Islanders; The Rivalry - Game 2

From the desks of:

BROOKLYN'S FOSTER HOCKEY CLUB  &  RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

The Rivalry - II

Isles Lead Series 1-0

I - NYI 6; NYR 3

Isles Lead Series 1-0

I - NYI 6; NYR 3

TONIGHT

New York Islanders

(28-13-1  57 points)  1st place Metropolitan Division

vs.

NEW YORK RANGERS

(24-11-4  52 Points)  3rd place Metropolitan Division

from

33rd Street & 8th Ave

NYC

With 4 games remaining in this series (including tonight) there is every reason to believe this long dormant rivalry will finally heat up again.  The last time these teams met was in the opening week of the season.  Long Island put a 6-3 spanking on the Rangers at MSG.

The Blueshirts have won 5 in a row in which they've outscored their opponent by a 22-8 margin.   They're back home, fresh off an impressing west coast trip, in which they defeated the Ducks, Kings, and Sharks by a combined 11-5 score.

The Islanders are winners of two in a row.  Tonight marks the final stop of their 7 game road trip, in which they've posted a 4-2 record so far.

The Rangers are 4th in the league with 3.1 goals per game, and 5th in goals against.  Their PP is 10th, and their PK is 11th.

Long Island is 7th in goals per game, and 21st in goals against.  Their PP is 15th, and their is PK 26th in the league.

With 26 goals so far this season, Rick Nash was selected to be the lone Ranger at this year's NHL All-Star Game.

John Tavares leads the Isles with 19 goals, and will likewise be the lone Long Island representative at the all-star game.

In net, King Henrik is back in the New York groove after a slow start this season.  In 31 games, Henrik has posted a 20-8-3 record, with a 2.26 GAA (which matches his career mark), and a .918 SV% (which is just slightly below his career .920 mark).

Jaroslav Halak, the Islanders difference maker this season, is right on par with Lundqvist.  In 30 games, Halak has a 22-8-0 record, with a 2.29 GAA, and a .914 Sv%.

Speaking of difference makers, where would each team be without their respective 30-year old defensemen; the Rangers without Kevin Klein, and the Islanders without Johnny Boychuk?



Mike