Takeaways: Power Play Powers Isles to 4-3 Preseason Win Over Rangers

The New York Islanders power play may still be a work in progress, but it powered the Isles to a 4-3 comeback win over the New York Rangers on Tuesday night in preseason action at Madison Square Garden.

The Islanders power play went 3-for-5, with Matias Maccelli (2G, 1A) and Matthew Schaefer (1G, 2A) each recording three points on the man advantage. Kyle MacLean’s even strength goal rounded out the scoring for the Islanders, who climbed out of a 3-0 deficit for the preseason win.

“I'm going to temper our enthusiasm. It's one game, we're working on some things,” Head Coach Pete DeBoer said of the power play. “If we go 0-for-4 tomorrow, the sky's not falling either. We want to make sure we're keeping this on an even keel, and hopefully some of the foundation pieces we're trying to lay here will make sure we have an improved power play.”

Still, there were building blocks to like for the Islanders’ coach, from Schaefer’s ability to get pucks to the net, as he did on his goal, to players swapping positions on the fly. It added up to a 3-for-5 night for the power play – the Isles first game with three power-play goals since Jan. 25, 2024.

“I thought it felt dangerous,” Head Coach Pete DeBoer said. “We were attacking. We were moving the puck quicker. We were more interchangeable to spots than we had been in the past.”

VARLAMOV PLAYS FOR FIRST TIME IN NEARLY TWO YEARS

While the game didn’t mean anything in standings – it sure meant a lot to Semyon Varlamov. The goaltender played his first game since Nov. 29, 2024 – and subsequent double partial knee replacements – coming in halfway through the game and stopping all nine shots he saw in relief. Perhaps most importantly, his knees felt good in his half game.

“I made a few good saves and started feeling good about myself,” Varlamov said. “I just tried to go out there and then have fun.”

Varlamov said he had some nerves before going out to relieve Ilya Sorokin, but ultimately the 38-year-old said it felt good to get back into an NHL game for the first time in nearly two years.

“Very exciting. I haven't played for a while in this league,” Varlamov said. “It was a very special moment.”

The Isles gave Varlamov a light load early, but he looked sharp when tested, notably stopping an Alexis Lafreniere breakaway and standing up to Rangers pressure in an extended six-on-five.

Fittingly, he was credited with the win.

SCHAEFER PICKS UP WHERE HE LEFT OFF

Schaefer picked up right where he left off last season, scoring his first goal of the preseason. Schaefer, who tied the NHL record for goals by a rookie defenseman last season, skated off the blue line and feathered a wrister through traffic, off the post and behind Igor Shesterkin.

That goal – which drew an audible cheer from the Isles fans at MSG – was the start of a three-point night for Schaefer, who debuted on the right side with Adam Pelech. DeBoer previously said Schaefer’s freewheeling style has him playing both sides throughout the course of the game – and that was true in the second period, where the defenseman was sprung for a partial breakaway.

MACCELLI MAKES STATEMENT

Matias Maccelli played it cool postgame, but the Finnish forward had a big preseason debut with two goals and an assist. His first was a little lucky, banking a centering feed off Sean Durzi and past Spencer Knight (who replaced Shesterkin for the third period).

Maccelli got his second power-play goal in a more traditional method, knocking in a Schaefer off another seeing-eye shot from the point.

Maccelli stressed it was one game, but DeBoer said that type of skill – and power play production – were reasons the Isles targeted the winger.

“He did what he's supposed to do tonight in order to make a statement about you know where he sits on the team,” DeBoer said.

LINES

Simon Holmstrom – Bo Horvat – Kyle Palmieri
Brayden Schenn – Cal Ritchie – Matias Maccelli
Cole Eiserman – JG Pageau – Victor Eklund
Kyle MacLean – Casey Cizikas – Mitchell Chaffee

Adam Pelech – Matthew Schaefer
Isaiah George – Tony DeAngelo
Kashawn Aitcheson – Scott Mayfield

NEXT GAME

The Islanders and Rangers meet again on Friday night at UBS Arena. Puck drop is at 7:30 p.m.