Jason Chimera is relatively new to the Islanders-Rangers rivalry, but has embraced it quickly. A hockey dad himself, Chimera's met Rangers fans on his son's hockey team, so he's learned what the rivalry means to his neighbors and that drives him during Isles-Rangers games.
"It's not hard to get up for. Some of your neighbors are Rangers fans, you go to your kids rink and see Rangers fans and you want to beat them just for those people," Chimera said. "There's die-hard Rangers fans and there's die-hard Islanders' fans, so there's no flip-flopping there. It's a fun rivalry. It's fun to go to the rink, especially when you get a win and talk to those guys after games."
