What’s missing from the Rangers and Islanders Rivalry

Kevin Hayes scores statement goal vs Islanders (Photo by Alex Trautwig/Getty Images)Growing up on Long Island in the 1980s surrounded by petulant Islander fans in a time where the team clad in blue and orange were winning championships and the Rangers were the epitome of futility, was a very difficult experience. Any time I had the nerve to wear something Rangers related, I got heckled, chastised and bullied.

True story: One day in gym class in high school, we were playing dodge ball. I had a Ranger T-shirt on. Once the game started, everyone on the other team aimed for me because of what I was wearing. It certainly felt that I was the only Ranger fan in my grade band. At least, the only one…