Game Preview: Islanders vs Rangers

NEW YORK ISLANDERS (33-37-10) VS NEW YORK RANGERS (34-37-9)
7 P.M. BARCLAYS CENTER - BUY TICKETS
TV: MSG+2, MSG GO
RADIO: 88.7FM - WRHU, 103.9FM - LI News, AM970 - The Answer
GAME NOTES - MORNING SKATE UPDATES

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\Graphic courtesy of Islanders PR*

QUICK NOTES:

• This is the Islanders final home game of the regular season
• The Islanders and Rangers meet for the fourth and final time this season

LINEUP NOTES:

Shane Prince returns to the lineup for the first time since Jan. 18 (33 games), replacing Tanner Fritz who is out sick. Johnny Boychuk and Scott Mayfield are out on defense, with Boychuk also ruled out for Saturday. Dennis Seidenberg and Brandon Davidson are in. Jaroslav Halak will start in goal.
Read more on Boychuk, Prince and Halak in
Thursday's morning skate updates.

STAN'S LAST GAME:

Thursday will be Stan Fischler's last Islanders broadcast, as the legendary hockey writer and broadcaster, who has been a part of Isles broadcasts since 1975, is retiring. An Islanders-Rangers game is an appropriate way for "The Hockey Maven" to go out, and he'll be on hand to drop the ceremonial first puck as the Isles pay tribute to the hockey lifer.

READ: A SALUTE TO THE MAVEN

Video: Practice Update 4/4: Beauvillier 20th Goal

SEASON SERIES:

The Islanders are 3-0-0 against the Rangers this season, including a 3-0 shutout win over the Blueshirts on Feb. 15. Overall the Islanders have won 10 of their last 11 against the Rangers and are a perfect 5-0-0 at Barclays Center.
The Islanders (76 points) are one point behind the Rangers (77 points) in the standings.

BY THE NUMBERS:

99 - career goals for Brock Nelson.Nelson's next goal will be the 100th of his NHL career. He is also one goal shy of hitting 20 for a fourth straight season.
39 - goals for Anders Lee. Lee is one goal shy of hitting 40 this season. If he does, he'll be the first Islander since Jason Blake (2006-07) to score 40.
4 - game scoring streak for Anthony Beauvillier.Beauvillier has goals in four straight games and hit the 20-goal mark for the first time on Tuesday. Overall, Beauvillier has seven points (4G, 3A) in his last seven games.
10-1-0 - against the Rangers.The Islanders have won 10 of their last 11 games against the Rangers and are a perfect 5-0-0 at Barclays Center.
14 - power-play goals. The Islanders have 14 power-play goals over their past 10 games (14-of-34). The 14 goals are the most in the NHL since March 16.

THE RANGERS:

Last Game: L 5-2 at New Jersey
Leading Scorers:Goals: Mika Zibanejad - 27
Assists:Mats Zuccarello - 36
Points:Mats Zuccarello - 52
This season hasn't gone as planned for the Rangers, who will miss the playoffs for the first time since 2009-10 and only second since 2005-06. At 34-37-9, the Rangers are guaranteed to finish under NHL .500 for the first time since 05-06.
The Rangers are undergoing a youth movement, having dealt veterans like Rick Nash and Michael Grabner, captain Ryan McDonagh and forward J.T. Miller around the trade deadline.
Now is the time for young players like 2017 first-round picks Lias Andersson (7th overall) and Filip Chytil (21st) to get a taste of the NHL. Andersson has two points (1G, 1A) in five games, while Chytil has three points (1G, 2A) in seven games.
Mats Zuccarello is expected to return to the Rangers lineup on Thursday after missing Tuesday's game. Ondrej Pavelec will start in goal for the Rangers, according to Matt Calamia of the Rangers' official site.
The Rangers are 3-5-2 in their last 10 games.