Overview
- Through two periods Saturday at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers trailed the Islanders 3-0 as their home scoring struggles continued.
- The Rangers entered the matchup with a league-best 7-1-1 road record and a winless 0-5-1 start at home.
- Artemi Panarin led Friday’s 4-1 win in Detroit with a goal and two assists after going six games without a point.
- Igor Shesterkin started in net, Connor Mackey was returned to AHL Hartford, Urho Vaakanainen was available to play, and Vincent Trocheck remained on long-term injured reserve with an upper-body injury.
- Through 15 games the Rangers had 35 goals for and 35 against, owning the NHL’s lowest goals-against rate while ranking near the bottom in scoring, as the Islanders arrived 6-6-2 with rookie Matthew Schaefer on five goals and 11 points.