Islanders Defeat Rangers 5-2 in Palat's Debut

Ondrej Palat scores and adds an assist in his first game with the Islanders.

Jan. 28, 2026 at 9:15pm

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The New York Islanders defeated their cross-town rival New York Rangers 5-2 on Wednesday night. Ondrej Palat, who was recently acquired by the Islanders, scored the opening goal and added an assist in his debut. Simon Holmstrom had a goal and two assists, while Mathew Barzal, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, and Emil Heineman also scored for the Islanders. Mika Zibanejad and Taylor Raddysh scored for the Rangers, who were without star forward Artemi Panarin due to roster management.

Why it matters

The Islanders' victory over the Rangers is significant as it marks Ondrej Palat's debut with his new team after being traded from the New Jersey Devils. The game also highlights the ongoing rivalry between the two New York-based NHL teams, who are competing for playoff positioning in the Eastern Conference.

The details

Palat scored the opening goal on the power play in the first period, with an assist from Holmstrom. Holmstrom then scored a tap-in goal himself shortly after to give the Islanders a 2-0 lead. Barzal and Pageau extended the Islanders' lead to 4-1 in the second period. The Rangers' goals came from Zibanejad and Raddysh, but they were unable to mount a comeback.

  • The game was played on Wednesday, January 29, 2026.
  • Palat scored the opening goal with 5:01 remaining in the first period.
  • Holmstrom scored the Islanders' second goal 1:11 after Palat's goal.

The players

Ondrej Palat

A forward who was recently acquired by the New York Islanders from the New Jersey Devils.

Simon Holmstrom

A forward for the New York Islanders who had a goal and two assists in the game.

Mika Zibanejad

A forward for the New York Rangers who scored one of their two goals in the game.

Artemi Panarin

A star forward for the New York Rangers who was held out of the lineup for roster management purposes.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

The takeaway

The Islanders' victory over their cross-town rivals, the Rangers, in Ondrej Palat's debut is a significant moment for the team as they look to solidify their position in the Eastern Conference playoff race. The game also highlights the ongoing rivalry between the two New York-based NHL teams.