Game Preview: Islanders at Rangers

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

Video: Morning Skate: NYI vs NYR 11/21

ISLES VS RANGERS:

The Islanders have won a franchise-record eight straight games against their crosstown rivals and 12 of the last 13 games. Josh Bailey, who has played 44 career games against the Rangers in his 10 years in the NHL, said he still gets excited for Isles-Rangers games, but can't quite pinpoint the reason for the Isles sustained success.
"It's another game and a big one for us," Bailey said. "When you get in these situations you just want to roll with it as long as you can. When you get a carry over from seasons I think it starts fresh every year, so we'll try to get another one here tonight."

ISLANDERS NOTES:

• The Islanders are coming off a 6-2 loss to the Dallas Stars on Sunday afternoon.
  • Anthony Beauvillier has four goals in his past two games. He has nine points (6G, 3A) in his last four games against the Rangers.
  • Mathew Barzal is riding a season-high five-game point streak (1G, 5A).
  • The Islanders are 7-0-0 vs the Metropolitan Division to start the season - a franchise-best. Per Eric Hornick, it's the first time since November 29, 2014 to February 14, 2015 (11-0-0) that the Isles have won seven straight divisional games at any point in a single season. The Islanders next four games are against divisional opponents.
  • The Islanders did not practice on Tuesday, so there are no indications to Wednesday's lineup.

RANGERS NOTES:

• Ryan Strome was acquired by the Rangers from Edmonton on Friday for forward Ryan Spooner. Strome played 258 games for the Islanders from 2013-16 and was drafted by the team in 2011. Wednesday marks Strome's first Islanders-Rangers game for the Blueshirts.
  • Filip Chytil, the Rangers 2017 first-round pick (21st overall), has goals in four straight games.
  • Alexandar Georgiev will start in goal for the Rangers on Wednesday. Georgiev is 3-2-0 this season with a 3.61 GAA and a .894 SV%. His last appearance came against the Islanders, stopping five-of-six shots in a relief appearance.
  • The Rangers have won two straight games, are 8-1-1 in their last 10 games and are not recently coming off a 2-1 win over the Dallas Stars.
    
    \Graphic courtesy of Islanders PR*