Islanders Crush Rangers in Latest Battle of New York

Islanders continue season domination of crosstown rival with 5-2 victory

Jan. 28, 2026 at 9:31pm

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The New York Islanders defeated the New York Rangers 5-2 in their latest matchup, continuing their season-long dominance over their crosstown rivals. The Islanders controlled the game from start to finish, outshooting the Rangers 35-19 and getting goals from Ondrej Palat, Simon Holmstrom, Mathew Barzal, and Jean-Gabriel Pageau. The win marked the Islanders' third victory over the Rangers this season.

Why it matters

The Islanders' continued success against the Rangers is a testament to their strong play this season, as they have firmly established themselves as the superior team in the Battle of New York. This game highlights the growing gap between the two franchises, with the Islanders looking like a playoff contender while the Rangers are in the midst of a rebuilding phase.

The details

The Islanders set the tone early, outshooting the Rangers 14-1 in the first period and taking a 2-0 lead on goals by Palat and Holmstrom. The Rangers briefly cut the deficit to 2-1 in the second period, but the Islanders quickly responded with goals from Barzal and Pageau to regain control. Palat, who was acquired from the New Jersey Devils just a day earlier, made an immediate impact by scoring in his Islanders debut. Holmstrom also had a strong game, recording a goal and an assist.

  • The Islanders took a 2-0 lead in the first period, with Palat scoring at 14:59 and Holmstrom adding a goal just 1:11 later.
  • Mika Zibanejad scored a power-play goal for the Rangers to make it 2-1 at 13:12 of the second period.
  • Barzal and Pageau scored goals 42 seconds apart in the second period to extend the Islanders' lead to 4-1.

The players

Ondrej Palat

A forward who was recently traded from the New Jersey Devils to the New York Islanders and scored in his Islanders debut.

Simon Holmstrom

An Islanders forward who had a goal and an assist in the game.

Mathew Barzal

The Islanders' star center who scored a goal in the game.

Jean-Gabriel Pageau

An Islanders forward who scored a goal in the game.

Mika Zibanejad

The Rangers' star center who scored a power-play goal in the game.

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What’s next

The Islanders will look to continue their strong play and solidify their position as a playoff contender, while the Rangers will need to regroup and find a way to compete with their crosstown rivals.

The takeaway

The Islanders' dominant performance against the Rangers underscores their status as the superior team in the Battle of New York this season, with their recent acquisitions and strong team play contributing to their success.