Islanders center Anthony Beauvillier is congratulated by teammates after scoring a goal against Rangers goaltender Ondrej Pavelec during the first period of an NHL hockey game at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2018. Photo Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
Neither the Islanders nor Rangers had won a game in regulation time since before Christmas entering Saturday’s game at Madison Square Garden. One of them played like they might not do so until Groundhog Day.
Behind a five-point game from Mathew Barzal and three points from Anthony Beauvillier — 20-year-olds born within two weeks of one another in 1997 — the Islanders defeated the Rangers, 7-2, to further tighten the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference.