The Rangers (4-1-0) improved to 3-0-0 at home to start the season. They lost their first seven home games last season and didn't get their third win at the Garden until Dec. 2.
Oliver Bjorkstrand scored his first two goals with the Rangers, Mika Zibanejad had three assists, and Igor Shesterkin made 17 saves.
Semyon Varlamov made 19 saves for the Islanders (1-2-0) in his first NHL game in 676 days, last playing Nov. 29, 2024. The goalie returned after having each of his knees partially replaced. Bo Horvat and Calum Ritchie scored, and Brayden Schenn had two assists.
Bjorkstrand's goal on a short-side wrist shot from the left face-off circle at 17:07 of the second period was the difference. It came on the power play and gave the Rangers a 3-2 lead after the Islanders came back from down 2-0.
Lafreniere scored his second goal of the game into an empty net at 18:22 of the third period to make it 4-2 and added another empty-net goal at 18:54 for the 5-2 final.
Bjorkstrand gave the Rangers a 1-0 lead at 6:40 of the first period.
Lafreniere won the puck from Matthew Schaefer along the end boards in the Islanders zone with a strong forecheck. He moved it into the right face-off circle, and Bjorkstrand scored on the Rangers' first shot on goal of the game, a one-timer over Varlamov's left shoulder.
Lafreniere scored 25 seconds into the second period to extend the lead to 2-0. Zibanejad, from his knees in the defensive zone, hit Lafreniere with a stretch pass into the neutral zone. Lafreniere got into the left circle and scored with a far-side shot.
Horvat made it 2-1 with a power-play goal at 2:56. He beat Shesterkin with a one-timer from the left circle off a pass from Matias Maccelli.
Ritchie tied it 2-2 at 4:52.
