New York Islanders at New York Rangers [Game 7]

			-AT-
			7:00 P.M. E.S.T.
Radio	Network		Arena		Network	Radio
88.7 FM WRHU	MSG+2		Madison Square Garden		MSG	98.7 FM WEPN
League	Value		Metric		Value	League
22nd	41.7%		Points Percentage		21.4%	28th
30th	.00%		Power Play Percentage		24.14%	11th
14th	80.00%		Penalty Kill Percentage		74.07%	30th
31st	80.00%		Combined Special Teams		98.21%	20th
24th	2.50		Goals for per Game (All Situations)		2.43	25th
16th	3.00		Goals against per Game (All Situations)		3.71	23rd
16th	.00		Penalty +/- per Game (All Situations)		.29	10th
14th	50.69%		Shot Attempt Percentage (5V5 Score Adjusted)		45.98%	28th
10th	51.07%		Scoring Chance Percentage (5V5 Score Adjusted)		44.19%	29th
14th	101.31%		P.D.O. (5V5)		96.72%	24th
19th	7.29%		Shooting Percentage (5V5)		5.24%	26th
6th	94.02%		Save Percentage (5V5)		91.48%	19th
Data from Hockey-Reference.com and Natural Stat Trick
The Enemies' Lair
Blueshirt Banter

Reminder - This game is on MSG+2

Busy sports night. #Isles feed tonight is on MSG+ 2 in most places, MSG+ in some places and MSGGo everywhere >> https://t.co/dqa83bAD8a

— Brendan Burke (@brendanmburke) October 19, 2017

The always high-energy matchup in the battle of New York (Sorry Buffalo Sabres) has finally arrived. The New York Islanders take on the New York Rangers in their first matchup of the year live at Madison Square Garden.

Both teams had came into the year with high expectations and hoped to compete for a playoff spot. It's still early, but it's safe to say things haven't exactly gone as planned. As it stands the Islanders come in with the second worst points percentage in the Metropolitan with the Rangers coming in dead last in the division. The respective clubs will be looking to jump start their seasons in addition to the chance to declare New York supremacy until their next matchup.

The Islanders woes have been well documented - They're one of only two teams in the N.H.L. who haven't scored on the power play so far this season and as a result come in with the league's worst special teams percentage despite being above the league average in penalty kill. Only the Anaheim Ducks have had a worse power play as they've had zero goals in their first 21 power plays this season. As a result, Doug Weight has inserted Ryan Pulock into the lineup as the seventh defenseman in replacement of Nikolay Kulemin who has struggled mightily this year. Weight and the staff are hoping that Pulock's right handed shot will disrupt their power play woes.

The Rangers struggles have been numerous so far this season. They are bottom five in possession at even strength and are second to last in scoring chance ratios. In addition to that, their penalty kill second to last which should give the Islanders an even greater chance to fix their aforementioned power play problems. They've also had problems shooting the puck as they come in 26th in shooting percentage at even strength and the decision to sign Ondrej Pavelec may have been short-sighted as their goaltending has been a position of weakness rather than the position of strength that it once was. All and all, it's been an awful start for the Rangers this season.

Jaroslav Halak has been known as a Rangers killer since signing with the Islanders. He'll get the start tonight against Henrik Lundqvist. The puck drops at 7:05 P.M. E.S.T.

New York Islanders Lines

New York Rangers Lines