They’re always some of the most exciting games of the year. The “Battle of New York”…Rangers vs. Islanders. Aside from the obvious inter-state rivalry, a few factors make this matchup even more intense this season.
Once again, the Metropolitan Division is jam-packed with talent. The differences in points between each place are small, with the largest gap being four points between the first place Washington Capitals and second place Columbus Blue Jackets. Competition is tight, making this game a crucial one for both teams.
Of course, this rivalry always seems somewhat unbalanced. The Islanders usually dominate the Rangers in the regular season, staying undefeated against them at their somewhat new home, the Barclays Center.