Game Preview: Islanders vs Rangers

NEW YORK ISLANDERS (27-25-6) VS NEW YORK RANGERS (27-25-5)
7 P.M. BARCLAYS CENTER - BUY TICKETS
TV: MSG+2, MSG GO
RADIO: 88.7FM - WRHU, 660AM/101.9FM - WFAN
GAME NOTES - MORNING SKATE UPDATES
The New York Islanders are looking for a spark to get them out of their two-game losing streak and a game against the New York Rangers should ignite their engines.
The Rangers have brought out the best in the Islanders this season, as the Isles are 2-0-0 against the blueshirts and 9-1-0 in their last 10 meetings. This is the first meeting of the season between the teams at Barclays Center, where the Islanders are a perfect 4-0-0 against their crosstown rivals.

"When these games come they're always a lot of fun to play in no matter how many you've played before," John Tavares said. "Any time of year they kind of get you excited. The atmosphere is going to be good, you know both fanbases will be passionate and be into it, a lot of pride on the line. We just want to go out there and get the result we need, we know every game is really important right now and try to feed off the emotion the right away."

There's more than just pride on the line, as both teams are fighting to climb back into the East playoff picture. The Islanders (60 points) and Rangers (59) are separated by one point, with the Rangers holding a game in hand.
The Islanders are currently three points back of the Carolina Hurricanes for the second wild card and still have to leapfrog the Columbus Blue Jackets, so every point is crucial. The Isles and Hurricanes will also meet on Friday night in Raleigh to conclude a home-and-road, back-to-back set.
"We have to play like it's a playoff game," Casey Cizikas said. "Every single game from here on is a playoff game for us and we have to make sure that we're doing whatever it takes to get the two points to win these games. These are important and we have to realize the severity of it."
After giving up 51 shots against Columbus on Tuesday - their third time allowing 50+ shots this season - cutting down the amount of shots against is a top priority.
"The less time you spend in your own zone it's a lot harder for them to get pucks and opportunities on net," Tavares said. "If we can just be a little quicker making some decisions, obviously being efficient on our breakouts and getting up the ice and be aggressive in the offensive zone and create opportunities for ourselves."

LINEUP NOTES:

UPDATE: HALAK IN GOAL, FRITZ AND SEIDENBERG IN, CHIMERA AND AHO OUT.
The Islanders tweaked their bottom six at Wednesday's practice. Cal Clutterbuck was reunited with Cizikas on the fourth line, while Jason Chimera moved up to the third line.

SEASON SERIES:

The Islanders are 2-0-0 this season against the Rangers, taking both meetings at MSG. The Isles beat the Rangers 7-2 in their most recent meeting, which was Mat Barzal's second five-point game this season.

BY THE NUMBERS:

9-1-0 - The Islanders record in their last 10 games against the Rangers. Halak is also 9-3-0 vs the Rangers as an Islander.
16-7-0 -Jaroslav Halak's career record against the Rangers.
12-1-0 - Jaroslav Halak's record in his last 13 head-to-head games with Lundqvist.
1-7-2 -Henrik Lundqvist's record in his last 10 decisions against the Islanders.
Power Play:Islanders 21.6% - 6th, Rangers 20.8% - 13th
Penalty Kill: Islanders 73.1% - 30th, Rangers 82.4% - 10th

THE RANGERS:

Last Game: L 3-2 at MIN
Leading Scorers:Goals: Michael Grabner - 23
Assists: Mats Zuccarello - 31
Points: Mats Zuccarello - 40
The Rangers are four points out of a playoff position with 25 games to play this season, but have hit a rough patch of late. The Rangers have lost five of their past seven games, including a 3-2 decision to the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday.
Part of that is due to injury, as the Rangers are without Chris Kreider (surgery to repair a blood clot), Kevin Shattenkirk (meniscus injury), captain Ryan McDonagh (upper body), Marc Staal (cervical strain) or third-leading scorer Pavel Buchnevich (concussion).
Mats Zuccarello currently leads the Rangers with 31 assists and 40 points, while Michael Grabner leads the team in goals.
Henrik Lundqvist is 23-18-4 this season with a 2.74 goals against average and a .919 save percentage.