The New York Islanders defeated the New York Rangers tonight (insert score) in Madison Square Garden. Despite their NHL-heavy lineup, the Rangers were taken to task by the Islanders, especially the new top line for the Islanders. Barzal scored twice in the second period, both being set up by Duclair. If it wasn’t for a matter of inches, Horvat was there to smack in the puck that initially clang iron.
It was Anthony Duclair’s debut alongside Mat Barzal and Bo Horvat, something that Islanders fans have looked forward to since he signed on July 1. Duclair did not disappoint, quickly showing off ridiculous speed and skill, perfectly meshing with Barzal and Horvat.
Dennis Cholowski got another big opportunity to partner with Scott Mayfield while Matt Martin continued to fight for a contract.
Islander Lines:
Duclair-Horvat-Barzal
Martin-Cizikas-Fasching
Liukas-MacLean-Engvall
Dufour-Karlstrom-Foudy
Romanov-Dobson
Cholowski-Mayfield
George-Hutton
Varlamov
Tikkanen
1st Period:
Well, that was certainly eventful. The pace of play was again high, but the Islanders came out the same way they did against New Jersey—with a defenseman taking a penalty on his first shift.
Scott Mayfield took a tripping minor within the first minute. But, the delayed penalty dragged on for almost an entire minute as the Rangers cycled it around at 6-on-5 before Panarin’s shot smacked the crossbar.
That’d be the best chance for the Rangers with a man advantage. The Islanders’ penalty kill was stout, with Kyle MacLean and Pierre Engvall skating together before Cizikas took spins with Horvat and Fasching.
The other main story of the period was the strong performances of the new top line. Duclair, Horvat, and Barzal controlled play whenever they were out there. Horvat and Barzal both had grade-a chances, with Shesterkin beating Barzal on a pair of them.
What became immediately apparent with Duclair’s game was his motor. He flies all around the zone, relentlessly going after pucks and trying to make plays. It’s going to be a good line for the Islanders.
Mayfield really was the other main story of the period. Midway through the first, Mayfield trucked Filip Chytil with a clean hit that left Chytil unable to get up on his power. Ryan Lindgren chased down Mayfield and dropped the mitts in an encounter that Mayfield also came away on top of.
Chytil eventually returned, but it was a scary sight for a preseason game. Mayfield served seven minutes of penalties in the first period. The Islanders had two power plays but failed to score on either. The passing was crisp when they needed it to be, but it’s clear the chemistry is still being dialed back up to where it was.
Shots: 10-7, NYI
2nd Period:
Wow. Just Wow. Any questions about Duclair’s potential fit were answered. He’s gonna fit just fine. Three-and-a-half minutes into the second period, Cholowski broke out Duclair and Barzal, who went in on a clear 2-on-1.
Barzal passed to Duclair, who waited until Ben Harper compromised himself. Duclair then sauced it back over the prone stick to Barzal, who slammed it home for the 1-0 lead.
https://x.com/NYIslanders/status/1838732988990800376
Just forty seconds later, Grant Hutton took a shot off a face-off that deflected off of Zibanejad and in, doubling the Islanders’ advantage.
https://x.com/NYIslanders/status/1838733899733557445
From there, the Islanders controlled play, save for a few Varlamov saves sprinkled in. Then, halfway through the period, Shesterkin and Varlamov swapped out for Jonathan Quick and Henrik Tikkanen.
Adam Edstrom crosschecked Hudson Fasching dangerously into the boards, which shook Fasching up. As a result, Pierre Engvall skated on the top PP unit.
It didn’t work. Engvall turned the puck over, setting the Rangers up on a 2-on-1. Chytil fed Zibanejad, who rang it off the post, and Tikkanen covered up.
Eventually, the Islanders top line got to work again. Dobson broke it out to Duclair, who carried through center and fed Barzal, who walked in and rifled a shot home off the post and Quick’s leg. Duclair, after making the initial pass, drove hard to the net to create the space for Barzal to work his defender.
https://x.com/NYIslanders/status/1838739584181555629
Shots: 21-16, NYI. (11-9 in period)
Goals: Barzal (Duclair, Cholowski), Hutton (Fasching, Cizikas) Barzal 2 (Duclair 2, Dobson)
3rd Period:
After a sleepy start to the third frame and another failed powerplay, the Rangers sprung Zac Jones, who made some moves and slipped it through Tikkanen’s five-hole.
On the ensuing shift, Matt Martin drew a tripping penalty. But, before the powerplay could, Bo Horvat carried through center ice, danced around Harper (who had a bad game for the Rangers, defensively), and chipped a shot right past the blocker of Quick to reinstate the three-goal lead.
From there, the Islanders kept pushing. Eetu Liukas forechecked hard all game long
