The Rangers face the Isles for the first time since Chris Simon ended his own season with a stick to the face of Ryan Hollweg. That game was the epitome of everything that’s good about hockey … at least until Simon’s two-hand chop … and with the playoff race as tight as it is, today’s contest could be at least as intense as the last.
A win today for the Blueshirts and they’ll vault into 6th place, passing Tampa Bay and leaving the Isles mired in a spot that guarantees them nothing more than an early tee time at the end of the season. The Islanders are a club that has had the Rangers’ number at times this season, and with DiPietro back in goal it will be a battle of the marquee netminders.
If you’re not watching NBC right now … turn on your TV, and enjoy the show.