The Skinny - Game 20
Rangers 5, Isles 0

Filip Chytil and Cody McLeod scored in the first 3:30 and that was more than the Rangers needed as they blanked the Isles 5-0 before a crowd of 17,297 at Madison Square Garden.

Alexandar Georgiev made 29 saves to record his first career shutout. It was the first time that the Rangers had blanked the Isles since April 13, 2013 when they did so on a Dan Girardi overtime goal at the Coliseum.
 
The loss snapped an eight-game Islander winning streak against the Rangers dating back to Opening Night of the 2016-17 season; it was the Isles' longest win streak vs. the Blueshirts in the history of the rivalry. The loss also is the Isles' first against a Metro Division opponent; they had gone 7-0-0 to start the season in divisional games.

Georgiev is the first Ranger other than Henrik Lundqvist to blank the Isles since Mike Dunham did so on St. Patrick's Day 2003.

All good things must come to an end. 

That includes the Islanders franchise-best eight-game winning streak over the Rangers, which came to a halt after an 5-0 loss at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night. The loss was also the Islanders first against a Metropolitan Division opponent this season.

Alexandar Georgiev made 29 saves for his first-career shutout, while Filip Chytil, Cody McLeod, Neal Pinok, Kevin Hayes and Chris Kreider scored for the Rangers. Robin Lehner made 22 saves in the loss, the Islanders first to the Rangers since Oct. 13, 2016.

"It was a tough game. They got out early and we were chasing all night," Mathew Barzal said. "It's never easy, but we need to have a better start. We had chances, we had a lot of grade-A chances, but their goalie made some big saves... The next time we get these guys we have to come out a little harder." 

The New York Islanders take on the New York Rangers on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden Watch the game on MSG+, MSG GO or NHL.TV. Listen live on 88.7FM WRHU, 103.9FM LI News or online at RADIO.COM. Read the game preview. Check the game notes. 

LINEUP NOTES:

Robin Lehner will start in goal for the Islanders, as he makes his first start since Nov. 10 in Florida. Lehner's last appearance came on Sunday afternoon, as he relieved Thomas Greiss in the second period. 

NEW YORK ISLANDERS (10-7-2) AT NEW YORK RANGERS (11-8-2)

7PM | MADISON SQUARE GARDEN

WATCH: MSG+ | MSG GO | NHL.TV

LISTEN: 88.7FM WRHU | 103.9FM LI NEWS | RADIO.COM

GAME NOTES | MORNING SKATE UPDATES

NYI LEADS SEASON SERIES 1-0-0

The Islanders beat the Rangers 7-5 on Nov. 15 at Barclays Center. Anthony Beauvillier recorded his first-career hat trick and first-career, four-point game in the win. Thomas Greiss made 36 saves in the win, while Henrik Lundqvist was pulled in the loss. 

The Bridgeport Sound Tigers (11-5-2-0), proud AHL affiliate of the New York Islanders, won a pair of defensive duels in Canada during a three-game road trip last week, and extended their unbeaten in regulation streak to a season-best eight games (7-0-1-0). Devon Toews (one goal, two assists) and Tanner Fritz (two goals, one assist) each recorded a team-high three points, helping the Sound Tigers improve to 7-1-1-0 this month

Mathew Barzal, Anders Lee and Matt Martin were expertly working the 11-and-under crowd at Camp Ave Elementary School in North Merrick on Monday. 

Need a shot of energy? Bring up Mario Kart. Want to send everyone home happy? Start a high-five line out the door. Barzal even had the ability to silence the crowd with a single "shhhhh" when things needed to get back on track. 

The only time the cheers turned to gasps was when Barzal brought up the notion of "putting the Fortnite down for a little while."

SOROKIN NAMED KHL GOALIE OF THE WEEK:

Ilya Sorokin was named the KHL's goalie of the week on Monday, after he posted a pair of shutouts to extend his shutout streak to three consecutive games.

Sorokin made 21 saves in a 3-0 win over Torpedo last Tuesday (Nov. 13) and made 24 saves in a 5-0 win over Ak Bars on Thursday (Nov. 15). Sorokin's shutout streak currently stands at 180:30. Per the KHL, Sorokin is close to the current KHL regular season shutout record, 208:30, held by 22-year old Igor Shestyorkin.

Sorokin is 11-3-3 this season with a 1.29 GAA, a .934 SV% and four shutouts. Sorokin's 1.29 GAA ranks second in the KHL. 

The Skinny - Game 19
Dallas 6, Isles 2

Esa Lindell and Alexander Radulov each scored twice, as the Dallas Stars overcame a 1-0 first intermission deficit and defeated the Isles 6-2 before a crowd of 10,650 at Barclays Center.

Lindell's goals, which came 4:59 apart, sandwiched the first NHL goal for Roope Hintz as part of a four-goal second period for Dallas; Radulov scored his 99th and 100th career goal in the 3rd period to put the game away.

The loss, which the Isles' first in regulation at Barclays Center since Opening Night, ended a 7-game point streak (5-0-2) in Brooklyn.

The six Dallas goals was the most a Stars team scored against the Isles since the Minnesota North Stars beat the Isles 6-3 at the Coliseum on October 17, 1989.