4/7/2016 Islanders at Rangers game preview

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Posted by Mark Weiner on Apr 7, 2016 17:00

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When: Thursday, April 7, 2016

Where: Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York

Time: 7:00 PM EDT

TV: MSG+ (Howie Rose, Butch Goring)

Radio: WNYE 91.5 FM, WRHU 88.7 FM and WRCN 103.9 FM (Chris King, Greg

Picker)

The Islanders will try to sweep the season series against their cross-town rival,

the New York Rangers, for the first time in franchise history. The Isles took the

first two meetings this season at Barclays Center, then bested the Blueshirts at

the Garden in a chaotic 6-4 game.

This game will also have an enormous impact on playoff seeding in the Eastern

Conference. The Islanders were able to clinch a playoff berth in their last game,

when they completed an unlikely comeback against the league-leading

Washington Capitals. When looking at the standings, the Islanders would

currently play the Florida Panthers and the Rangers would face the Pittsburgh

Penguins. But if the Islanders win in regulation tonight, both teams would have

99 points and the Isles would still have a game in hand. Home ice advantage is

looking more and more like a long shot considering the Penguins recent streak.

In order for the first round to open up in Brooklyn, the Penguins would have to

lose their remaining two games and the Islanders would have to win all three.

After a strong effort by Christopher Gibson in Washington, Islanders’ coach Jack

Capuano has decided to start Thomas Greiss between the pipes. The German

goaltender made 32 saves against Tampa Bay in his last start on Monday. The

remainder of the lineup will be a game time decision as the Isles try to battle

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4/7/2016 Islanders at Rangers game preview

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numerous injuries.

Clutterbuck and Mayfield on for extra work. Presume they're

both our, de Haan in on D. #Isles

12:12 PM - 7 Apr 2016

11 27

Arthur Staple @StapeNewsday

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 Calvin de Haan skated this morning at MSG and is likely to dress after exiting

Monday’s game with an apparent knee injury. Cal Clutterbuck skated with the

extras this morning and will likely not play.

The Rangers have similar injury issues as captain Ryan McDonagh will miss the

remainder of the regular season with an upper body injury. The Rangers are 4-

1-1 without their captain. 2012 first-round pick,  Brady Skjei, was recalled from

the AHL earlier in the week. Skjei played over 16 minutes in his fifth career

game but did not register a point. The Blueshirts will also be without

defenseman Dan Girardi as he sustained an upper body injury against Tampa

Bay on Tuesday. Dan Boyle will take his place in the lineup.

Players To Watch

John Tavares – The captain has registered consecutive three point games when

the Islanders needed him most. He has surpassed the 30 goal mark for the third

time in his career. No. 91 seems to be heating up as the Islanders look to make

noise in the postseason for the first time since 1993.

Marc Staal – The Rangers alternate captain has had an up and down 2015-16

campaign, but appears to be rounding into form just before the postseason.

With McDonagh sidelined, Staal will have to assume top pairing minutes

against the opposition’s top line. In recent years, Staal was a luxury on the

second pairing but now, the Blueshirts need Staal to lead the charge from the

backend.

Game Notes

Clinched- In Tuesday’s (April 5 at WSH) overtime win at Washington, the

Islanders clinched a playoff spot for the second straight season and the third

time in four seasons. New York can clinch at least the third wildcard spot with

three more points in their final three games.

Gibson- Christopher Gibson made 29 saves, including three in OT, during first

NHL start on April 5 at WSH to earn his first career win. Gibson, a Karkkila,

Finland native, is 19-11-3 with two shutouts in 42 games with the Bridgeport

Sound Tigers of the AHL. Gibson won a Bronze Medal with Finland at the 2009-

10 U18 World Junior Championships.

Hot Hands- John Tavares has 11 points (5G, 6A) in his last eight games

including three multi-point games. Kyle Okposo has four points (1G, 3A) in his

last two games, recordings multi-point games in both. Frans Nielsen has four

points (4A) in his last four games including one multi-point game.

Killin’ It- The Islanders currently boast the NHL’s second-best penalty kill unit.

They have killed 189-of-222 penalties this season and their 32 PPG allowed are

the fewest in the league.

Division Dominance- New York is 17-7-4 against division foes this season. Last

season, the Islanders finished 21-6-3 against the Metropolitan Division.

Battle in the Big Apple- Tonight’s game is the first time the Rangers and

Islanders have played against each other when each team has had at least 97

points entering the contest. The Rangers and Islanders have both advanced to

the playoffs in two consecutive seasons for the first time since a stretch of 10

straight seasons from 1977-78 – 1986-87.

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The Insanity of Losing on Purpose, Why Islanders Must Win ift.tt/1oFCOHs #isles

presumable #isles lineup news twitter.com/StapeNewsday/s…

#Isles twitter.com/StapeNewsday/s…

#isles Capuano announces Greiss in goal tonight. Lineup TBD.

Islanders Insight’s Top Shelf: 4/7/16 ift.tt/1MV9zvK #isles

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About Mark Weiner

Blackjack- Five Rangers have registered 21 or more goals in the same season

for the first time since 2010-11. The Rangers are one of two NHL teams that

have five players who have recorded at least 21 goals in 2015-16 (along with

San Jose).

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