Rangers fall flat in preseason finale against Islanders 3-1; Sammy Blais ‘fine’ after injury
The New York Rangers played their final preseason game in preparation for their season opener against the Tampa Bay Lightning next Tuesday and it wasn’t the result they wanted.
While the Rangers did outshoot the Islanders for the game by a 29-16 margin, they simply could not get enough pucks by Ilya Sorokin.
Recap: Islanders 3 vs Rangers 1
1ST PERIOD
The Islanders scored first after an awful turnover by Vincent Trocheck. Sebastian Aho was the recipient of the puck and he found Kieffer Bellows down low, who beat Igor Shesterkin for the lead 9:06 in.
Mathew Barzal would make it 2-0 using a tremendous snap shot over Shesterkin’s glove with 3:44 remaining.
When the period ended, Ilya Sorokin was able to turn all 9 shots the Blueshirts sent his way. His counterpart and good friend only made 3 stops. It would wind up being a theme in this contest.
2ND PERIOD
Sammy Blais was hit by Alexandar Romanov midway through first period and left some time before the horn sounded. When the Rangers skated out for the middle frame, they announced Blais would not return due to an upper-body injury.
After the game, Gerard Gallant did not seem too concerned with the injury and said Blais was fine. He will have further evaluation on Sunday.
The Rangers were better to start the second period but once again had a difficult time beating Sorokin. Artemi Panarin came close early but it rang off the crossbar.
Unfortunately, it was more of the same as the Rangers couldn’t break through despite outshooting the Isles 12 shots to 7.
3RD PERIOD
The Isles came out with a little more jump in the third period and Zach Parise opened the scoring on a tap-in power play goal with K’Andre Miller in the box for cross-checking.
Chemistry between Trocheck and Panarin will likely need some more time to develop as the two have yet to click. But it was after a strong shift by their line along with Jimmy Vesey that gave the Rangers some momentum.
On the very next shift, Kaapo Kakko scored his third of the preseason from just inside the left circle. Braden Schneider would get the only assist.
In the end, that’s all the Rangers would get on this night.
Notable Rangers
- Igor Shesterkin only stopped 13 of 16
- Kaapo Kakko registered his third goal of the preseason
- Braden Schneider picked up his third assist
- Rangers PP went 0-4
Tomorrow (Sunday, October 9): Day Off
Next Game: Tuesday, October 11 vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (7:30 PM – TV: ESPN)
*Schedule subject to change
NHL NEWS
NHL Recaps: Preds beat Sharks in opener. Read more.
METROPOLITAN DIVISION PREVIEW. Read more.
ATLANTIC DIVISION PREVIEW. Read more.
CENTRAL DIVISION PREVIEW. Read more.
PACIFIC DIVISION PREVIEW: Read more.
More About:New York Rangers Analysis New York Rangers Games
Read This Next
