The New York Rangers reversed the script just 48 hours after an embarrassing effort and defeated the New York Islanders by a final score of 5-0. Artemiy Panarin and Pavel Buchnevich scored two goals each, while Alexandar Georgiev scored the goal in his first match of the season.
1st period
Pavel Buchnevich (1) – Mika Zibanejad (1) – 2:12
Unlike the previous game, the Rangers were ready to go from the initial confrontation and arrived at the Islanders early. After a shooting attempt by Mathew Barzal, the puck flew out of the neutral zone, where Noah Dobson returned to recover. Mika Zibanejad was equally quick on the record, fought the check and interrupted in a 2-to-1 rush with Pavel Buchnevich. Zibanejad sold the kick enough to pull the defender on the opposite side and transferred to Buchnevich on the other side to open the lead 1-0.
Artemiy Panarin (1) – Brendan Smith (1) – 13:46
Just over ten minutes after the first goal, the Rangers managed to double the advantage thanks to none other than Artemiy Panarin. Brendan Smith created the entire sequence with a great reading in the defensive zone to break the attempt to cross the ice. Almost immediately, Smith tossed a disc on the open ice where Panarin was waiting, and Breadman went on an escape alone. Ilya Sorokin didn’t have much of a shot, and Panarin put New York 2-0 ahead.
2nd period
Pavel Buchnevich (2) – Without help – 5:57
As if the Rangers’ start was not good enough, they went on with an even better second period. Pavel Buchnevich gave the Rangers a 3-0 lead after a great individual effort, and made his second mark of the night. K’Andre Miller received no assist on goal, but he certainly played an important role in sacrificing his body to make a play in the defensive zone. Buchnevich ended the play with a clear shot from the left and defeated Ilya Sorokin under the bar.
Kaapo Kakko (1) – Phil Di Giuseppe (1) and Filip Chytil (1) – 15:24
The trio Kaapo Kakko, Phil Di Giuseppe and Filip Chytil started the game as the fourth row and, although that raised some doubts, they responded with a goal. The puck opened the way for all three attackers in the race, and finally landed on Kaapo Kakko’s tape to the right of the net. Kakko finished off with a heavy one-timer from his knee and passed the puck through a sprawling Sorokin to blow up the game’s doors.
3rd period
Artemiy Panarin (2) – Adam Fox (1) and Pavel Buchnevich (1) PPG – 15:56
The Islanders’ frustration was evident at the end of the game, and Ross Johnston sent the Rangers into a prolonged game of strength after suffering a minor double for violence. New York’s powerful game continued to dominate possession of the puck in the offensive zone and finally found its fifth goal of the night. Artemiy Panarin scored his second goal of the night after receiving a light touch pass from Adam Fox, and turned the record over Sorokin.
This game as a whole represented a complete turnaround on Thursday night, with the Rangers in control of the game since the opening draw. Disc management was a big part of that, as they went to work in the offensive zone and kept the pressure on the Islanders for the full 60 minutes. After Rangers’ first win of the season, they will have the next two days off before returning to action on Tuesday night against the New Jersey Devils.