The New York Rangers showed Tuesday again that maybe these are not the same old Blueshirts. Facing the Islanders, against whom New York went 0-4 in 2025-26, the Blueshirts won their fourth in a row, 5-2, at MSG. The Rangers now get two days off before facing the Capitals in DC on Friday.
Game recap:
Rangers lines vs. Islanders:
Perreault-Zibanejad-Lafrenière
Kartye-Miller-Dorofeyev
Cuylle-Laba-Tolvanen
Bjorkstrand-Beaudoin-Chmelař
Gavrikov-Fox
Pettersson-Durzi
Šmits-Schneider
Shesterkin
Garand
Scratches: Morrow, Rempe
IR: Sýkora (lower-body), Korpisalo (lower-body), Veleno (lower-body)
A few thoughts:
1) Cole Beaudoin and the fourth line: Matthew Robertson surprisingly passed through waivers – yes, I know I said the same about Dylan Garand last week – and was assigned to Hartford. With Joe Veleno landing on the injured list, Beaudoin was recalled from Hartford after notching five points in the first games of the season. Beaudoin, acquired from Utah with Sean Durzi for Vincent Trocheck, centered the fourth line between Oliver Bjorkstrand and Jaroslav Chmelař.
Beaudoin skated 9:57, winning six of 11 faceoffs in the win. He projects to be a solid third-line center who plays a physical game and can chip in offensively. Coach Mike Sullivan opted now to break up the effective Will Cuylle-Noah Laba-Eeli Tolvanen trio, resulting in Beaudoin’s game assignment after centering the Wild Pack’s second line.
Bjorkstrand, moved to the fourth line with Tye Kartye sliding up during the Detroit contest, tallied twice. One came at even strength to start the Rangers scoring while the second was oj the power play. Bjorkstrand made the most of his 8:58 of ice time. His ability to fill a fourth line but also move up if need be will prove to be valuable as the season continues.
2) Style of play: when is the last time we had the type of vibes that many feel with this team? After two brutal years, maybe it was the 2024 run. But that was a different team, one built on style, not substance. Several coaches spoke of the need for north-south, not east-west, play, but that was not the squad’s style.
It’s only five games, so we all have to be careful not to generalize and overrate. But after seeing too many turnovers and a lack of grit, but only flash, this is a somewhat welcome change. All that said, talent wins, as does skill. A balance of both is really what is needed, knowing when to chip and charge and when to use skill.
What has been most impressive is the forecheck and own-zone coverage. I could highlight a ton of examples, as the increased speed and the attention to detail have clearly been on display. A prime example of this can be seen in Alexis Lafreniere’s first goal. Mike Zibanejad’s solid defense along the boards in the defensive zone created the turnover. He then, from his knees, got the puck to the neutral zone, on target to a streaking Laf, who beat Semyon Varlamov high to the glove side.
Laf’s first empty-net tally was caused by strong play in the neutral zone. Zib created the turnover, JT Miller carried the puck to the offensive zone, found Laf in the middle, and game over. Defense leading to offense.
3) Laf – remember the panic two games ago that Laf hadn’t scored. Two games later, five points. Laf had been solid; just snake-bit. He chipped away at the weight on his back Sunday with an assist. Yesterday, he knocked the entire appendage off with four points. Zib, Laf, and Gabe Perreault have chemistry and creativity, and need to/will remain as a unit. We can take the panic level down several notches, at least until the next game.
Home › Forums › Rangers Beat Isles; Lafreniere With Hat Trick
Tagged: New York Rangers, nhl