Islanders Tumble in Standings as Rangers Rally

Islanders Face Crucial Games Ahead of All-Star Break, Rangers Seek Improvement in Even-Strength Play

New York Islanders have fallen from second in the Metropolitan Division to 11th in the Eastern Conference after five losses in six games, with poor decision making and injuries cited as key issues.
New York Rangers have won their last two games, including a 5-2 victory over the Seattle Kraken, with Blake Wheeler scoring two goals and Kaapo Kakko returning from injury.
Despite recent wins, the Rangers are struggling with five-on-five play, ranking 20th in the league in goals-scored percentage at 49.72.
The Islanders' season could hang on the five games before the All-Star break, with the team currently struggling with poor decisions, injuries, and a lack of scoring.
The Rangers' Mika Zibanejad has scored a five-on-five goal in only four games this season, indicating a need for improvement in even-strength play.