The NY Rangers defeated the Islanders 3-2 on Tuesday night in Thomas Vanek's debut.
In the only game at the Nassau Coliseum this season, the Rangers wound up with the first goal on the power play; Chris Kreider scored his first of the year. Despite the deficit, the Islanders outshot the Rangers 9-5 in the first period.
The Rangers came out with more energy in the second period and put six shots on goal on the powerplay. Despite the energy exhibited by the Rangers, the Islanders evened the score on Cal Clutterbuck's first of the season; Matt Carkner assisted on the tally. The game took on a more energetic complexion with both sides getting opportunities to take the lead. The Islanders would eventually accomplish the feat when Travis Hamonic fired a shot from the left circle that hit off of Peter Regin and Rangers' defenseman Dan Girardi. The Islanders would take a 2-1 lead into the second intermission.
The Rangers would get a powerplay early in the third and would tie up the game with a goal from Ryan McDonaugh. The Rangers would then take a 3-2 lead when Benoit Pouliot got a shot from the slot past Islanders' goalie Evgeni Nabokov. The Islanders would dominate play from that point on and nearly tied the game with a John Tavares wraparound but goalie Cam Talbot made a save to avoid the 3-3 scoreline.
Next up for the Islanders is a matchup with the Ottawa Senators on Friday. The Rangers will host the Buffalo Sabres.
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