Fifty years ago this week, the New York Islanders won the first playoff series in franchise history by upsetting the New York Rangers in a dramatic three-game set that cemented their rivalry as the hardest in the Tri state.
Golden Anniversary Matchup between Islanders and Rangers will not be almost as important Thursday night when two teams with almost non -existent playoffs will be square for the last time this season, in Elmont, new
Rangers won the first three matches in the season series.
The Öröarna played last Tuesday, when they knocked out a two-goal lead during the last three minutes of regulation and fell to the host Nashville Predators 7-6 in overtime.
Rangers will complete a back-to-back set after they have endured a catastrophic third period on Wednesday night’s 8-5 loss to the visiting Philadelphia Flyers.
The losses were symbolic of how the season has spiraled down for both the islanders (34-32-11, 79 points) and Rangers (36-35-7, 79 points), each is eight points behind the Montreal Canadiens in the race for the last Eastern Conference Wild Card place.
The islanders have a game in their hand on both the Canadian and Rangers, which means that they cannot officially be eliminated regardless of Thursday’s results. Rangers will be eliminated with any loss.
The defeat Tuesday marked the third time this season, the islanders have destroyed a lead with several goals in the third period. They have been outscored 94-83 after the second period and have handed over 10 game binding or forward goals during the last three minutes of regulation.
The loss for the predators was particularly frustrating for the islanders, who did twice in 58 seconds during the third period to take a 6-4 lead with 3:41 left.
But Bo Horvat was whistled to stumble to set Steven Stamkos Power Play goal with 2:07 left before Michael Bunting scored a 6-for-5 goal at 19:20. Fedor Svechkov completed the comeback by gathering the game winner at 1:56 of overtime.
“We were not sharp all night, we were not the best,” Horvat said. “But at the end of the day we have to find a way to get these winnings. We were up two with three minutes left. Must find a way to get it done.”
Rangers seemed as if they could save a wild card with a disappointing season on March 15, when they received a 4-0 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets to maintain a one-point lead over Canadiens in the end of the final playoffs.
But Rangers are only 3-7-1 since then, a span where the Canadians have gone 7-3-2.
Rangers have lost the last three matches; They have been outdoors 17-6 by the playoffs Team New Jersey and Tampa Bay and Philadelphia, which is in the last place in the Metropolitan Division.
Philadelphia scored six goals on the third period Wednesday-more goals than Flyers scored in all but six of their first 77 games.
“We haven’t really helped ourselves-let us be honest,” said Rangers Center Mika Zibanejad after his four-point game went for nothing Wednesday. “We haven’t really helped us in recent weeks. We’ve got some chances and I felt a couple of weeks ago as if it was still in our hands to take care of the games we had.”
-Field level media
