The Rangers and Islanders meet for the first time Thursday night when the Blueshirts host the Islanders at Madison Square Garden.
The Rangers are coming off a frustrating but promising game Tuesday night against the Penguins. New York was able to erase an early 2-0 deficit and eventually led in the third period before Pittsburgh struck late in regulation and then early in overtime to take the contest, 5-4.
The reason to feel optimistic is that for the first time since Oct. 7, the Rangers posted four goals, all scored by different players. Three of those players - David Desharnais, Pavel Buchnevich and Michael Grabner - netted their first of the season, while J.T. Miller scored for the first time since that Oct. 7 game in Toronto.
Ryan McDonagh did not practice on Wednesday but is expected to be in the lineup Thursday night. Henrik Lundqvist is the projected Blueshirts' netminder.
Tonight marks the Islanders' first game since wrapping up a California road trip on Sunday, during which it went 1-2.
Similar to the Rangers, the Islanders' offense hasn't found its groove yet. Through six games, the Islanders have 15 goals, with six of them coming in the team's second game of the year against Buffalo.
Casey Cizikas is leading the team with five points, with Brock Nelson and Joshua Ho-Sang right behind with four. Jordan Eberle, whom the team acquired from Edmonton in the offseason, has three assists in six games, while John Tavares has just two goals and an assist.
The Islanders' power play has struggled early with no goals on 20 opportunities.
