Zuccarello, Rangers beat crosstown rival Islanders
The New York Rangers knew all about their long-running struggles in Brooklyn. Any win over the Islanders these days was going to be welcome.
Mats Zuccarello’s well-placed skate sent the Rangers happily back to Manhattan.
Zuccarello scored late in the third period, redirecting a shot from the point with his foot to lift the Rangers over the Islanders 2-1 on Saturday for their first ever win at Barclays Center. Filip Chytil also scored and Alexandar Georgiev made 24 saves to help the Rangers win in Brooklyn for the first time since their intracity rivals began playing home games there in 2015.
The Islanders had been 13-2-0 in the teams’ previous 15 meetings overall.
“We didn’t talk about it before the game or anything, but I was well aware,” Marc Staal said. “It was nice to see that goal go in during the third and us able to hang on and get a win.”
The Rangers had been 0-6-1 in their previous seven games in Brooklyn, with their only point coming on Dec. 2, 2015 in a shootout loss.
“We have to string a few more like this together,” Brady Skjei said. “Keep building off this one and get back in the playoff hunt.”
The game completed a home-and-home between the Islanders and Rangers, which began on Thursday at Madison Square Garden. It also marked the final meeting between the Big Apple rivals this season, with each team winning two games.
Saturday’s win was an important one for the Rangers, who had yet to win since the calendar flipped to 2019. The Rangers had been 0-5-0 since the start of January and scored three or more goals just once in that span.
Anthony Beauvillier scored for the Islanders and Robin Lehner made 24 saves in his second consecutive start.
DEVILS 3, FLYERS 2: Rookie Mackenzie Blackwood made 32 saves in his return from an injury, helping New Jersey beat Philadelphia. Damon Severson, Nico Hischier and Miles Wood scored for the Devils. CANADIENS 3, AVALANCHE 0: Carey Price stopped 28 shots for his third shutout of the season as Montreal beat Colorado. Brett Kulak, Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Jordie Benn all scored in the third period for the Canadiens.
BRUINS 3, MAPLE LEAFS 2: David Pastrnak scored a tiebreaking goal late in the second period and Boston defeated Toronto. Sean Kuraly had a goal and two assists, and David Krecji also scored for Boston.
RED WINGS 5, WILD 2: Tyler Bertuzzi recorded his first career hat trick and Detroit ended a three-game losing streak with a victory over Minnesota.
LIGHTNING 5, SABRES 3: Steven Stamkos broke a tie with 5:16 remaining in Tampa Bay’s victory over Buffalo.
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 4, BLACKHAWKS 3, OT: Vegas defenseman Shea Theodore scored 1:19 into overtime when Chicago’s Carl Dahlstrom slid the puck into his own net. BLUES 3, STARS 1: Vladimir Tarasenko scored twice as St. Louis beat Dallas