Islanders Can Eliminate Rangers: Lines & Notes

The Islanders' season is on life support.

Stefen Rosner, Matthew Page, The Elmonters, and David Kolb

Apr 10, 2025

ELMONT, NY — After an inopportune collapse in Nashville, the New York Islanders (34-32-12) face the New York Rangers (36-34-7) with their playoff chances on the line.

Puck drop at UBS Arena is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. and the game can be found on MSGSN:

The Islanders last faced the Rangers at Madison Square Garden on March 3, with the Rangers picking up a 4-0 win. Igor Shesterkin made 21 saves with four different players lighting the lamp for the Rangers.

PROJECTED LINEUP:

Lee-Horvat-Palmieri

Tsyplakov-Pageau-Holmstrom

Engvall-Cizikas-Fasching

Martin-MacLean-Gatcomb

Romanov-DeAngelo

Pelech-Pulock

Dobson-Mayfield

Hogberg

Lennox

Who’s Hot:

Simon Holmstrom reached the 20-goal mark for the first time in his NHL career on Tuesday. He had a career-high four points in the game, recording two goals and two assists. In 70 games this season, he has 20 goals and 22 assists for 42 points.

Jean-Gabriel Pageau had three assists on Thursday, the third of his career and second this season. His 28 helpers this year set a new career-high, and he is two points short of his career-high of 43.

Anders Lee enters Thursday’s game two goals short of his first 30-goal season since 2017-18, when he scored 40. He has a chance to cut into the deficit against the Rangers, who he tops active Islanders in goals against with 15 in 40 games. Kyle Palmieri leads the team in assists and points against them with 14 and 27, respectively.

Marcus Hogberg will start with Ilya Sorokin out with a lower-body injury. He allowed three goals on nine shots in relief of Sorokin on Tuesday in a loss to It will be his first career start against the Rangers.

OPPONENTS NOTES:

Mika Zibanejad had four assists on Wednesday night against the Philadelphia Flyers, the second of his NHL career. He last accomplished the feat on Dec. 29, 2018.

Artemi Panarin scored his 300th NHL goal on Wednesday. He had a goal and assist in their last meeting and had a pair of goals in their first meeting on Nov 3.

J.T. Miller has points in eight straight games against the Islanders. The forward has three goals and eight assists for 11 points in that span, lighting the lamp in both meetings with the Islanders since being reacquired by the Rangers.

Chris Kreider has the most career goals against the Islanders among active Rangers, boasting 16 in 37 games. Panarin leads the team in assists and points against them with 28 and 44, respectively, in 37 games.

Shesterkin will oppose Hogberg in net on Thursday. He took the loss against the Tampa Bay Lightning, allowing four goals on 22 shots. Following his shutout in their last meeting, he is now 8-8-1 in 17 career games against the Islanders with a 2.72 GAA and .905 SV%.

RANGERS LINES