Schaefer, Islanders edge Rangers to complete season series sweep

NEW YORK -- Matthew Schaefer moved past a couple of Hall of Fame defensemen in the hunt for separate records, and the New York Islanders completed a four-game regular-season sweep of the New York Rangers, winning 2-1 at Madison Square Garden on Thursday.

Schaefer scored his 14th goal, the second-most in NHL history by an 18-year-old defenseman behind Phil Housley, who had 17 goals before his 19th birthday in 1982-83. Schaefer was previously tied for second with Bobby Orr, who scored 13 goals as an 18-year-old in 1966-67.

In addition, Schaefer's goal was his fourth game-winner this season, moving him past Denis Potvin for the most by a rookie defenseman in team history.

He also tied Vladimir Malakhov (1992-93) for the second-most goals in a season by an Islanders rookie defenseman behind Potvin (17 in 1973-74).

"Saying all those names, it's crazy because they're going to go down as some of the best defensemen to ever play," Schaefer said. "Obviously, Potvin playing for the Islanders is pretty cool. Everyone knows him. He's created a great legacy with the Islanders and everything. You don't really think about it that much, but when those names pop up and you hear those names, it's an honor to be with those guys and things like that and see what they've done."

Carson Soucy scored against his former team and Ilya Sorokin made 20 saves for the Islanders (30-19-5), who also defeated the Rangers 5-2 at UBS Arena on Wednesday, 5-0 at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 8 and 2-0 at home on Dec. 27.

It's the first time since 2017-18 that the Islanders have swept the regular-season series against the Rangers.

"I think from just the start when I played my first Islanders-Rangers game, the building is full of both fans and it's loud," Schaefer said. "We can score here, and it gets loud because we've got a lot of fans here. They can score there (UBS Arena), and it can get a little loud. But our fans are way louder than theirs. It's pretty fun when we go on the board and our fans are cheering."

The Islanders have won three games in a row and are 5-2-1 in the second game of a back-to-back this season.

"It's a good win for us," Islanders coach Patrick Roy said. "It was not our best game of the season but that's what good teams do, they find ways to win. I thought we played well enough defensively to allow ourselves to stay in that game and score those two late goals in the second period. And Ilya was good again."

Mika Zibanejad scored and Jonathan Quick made 19 saves for the Rangers (22-27-6), who have lost five of their past six games and 10 of 12.

New York played its second game without Artemi Panarin, who is being scratched for roster management purposes because he is expected to be traded.

"I thought for the most part the team competed pretty hard," Rangers coach Mike Sullivan said. "I thought we generated a fair amount of scoring chances. The goals are hard to come by now. I thought Mika's line in particular had a number of Grade A looks. Give Sorokin credit, I thought he made some timely saves for them. There's a fine line between winning and losing; I thought we played well enough to win."

Soucy scored at 17:18 of the second period to give the Islanders a 1-0 lead.

Maxim Shabanov got the puck across the zone to Soucy in the left circle. He snapped a shot that snuck through Quick and into the net on the short side.

"Kind of a lucky one, but ultimately just nice to contribute," Soucy said.

The Islanders acquired Soucy from the Rangers on Monday.

"For him to get a goal, I think it's kind of payback in a way," Schaefer said. "Once he gets traded and then he gets to score against this team, so it's pretty cool."

Schaefer extended the lead to 2-0 just 1:35 later. He got the puck from Bo Horvat and scored from the top of the left face-off circle with a short-side shot that went over Quick's pad and under his blocker with Simon Holmstrom providing a screen in front of the goalie at 18:53.

"I have to give credit to Bo there; Bo found me super clean," Schaefer said. "I tried to walk down the left flank there, and there was a big screen in front by 'Homer,' too. I don't think he saw very much of it. I went low blocker."

Roy said Schaefer's shot reminds him of Hall of Fame defenseman Ray Bourque's wrist shot.

"Ray always kept it just above the pad and that was his thing," Roy said. "Now he seems to do the same thing as Ray."

Zibanejad cut it to 2-1 at 2:48 of the third period with a power-play goal on a one-timer from the left circle.

"We had enough chances to score a few more and get a better result, but that wasn't the case," Zibanejad said. "As positive as we try to be, or try to look for the positives, it's hard to be when you lose another game."

NOTES: The Islanders defeated the Rangers on consecutive days for the third time in history (Oct. 19-20, 2005, and Nov. 21-22, 1981). … Zibanejad's goal was his 273rd with the Rangers, moving him past Andy Bathgate for fifth most goals in franchise history. He tied Henrik Zetterberg and Filip Forsberg for the sixth most goals by a Sweden-born player in NHL history (337).