Islanders set for first 'Battle of New York' with Rangers

When you think about the great rivalries in professional sports, Islanders vs Rangers is always in the discussion. In fact, when both teams are good and contending for playoff spots, you can make the argument that it’s up there as one of the best in the four major sports but no matter how good or bad each team is, the games are always intense and emotional.

The newest chapter in the “Battle of New York” gets underway on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden when the Islanders and Rangers meet for the first time this season.

“It will be awesome,” said Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer. “It’s always fun playing at the Garden. It’s an historic arena and it’s always fun when you don’t have to go too far down the road. It’s going to be a big game. They have a good team over there, but we’re just worried about us.”

Last season, the Islanders earned bragging rights in a big way as they swept the season series against the Blueshirts winning all four games by a combined score of 14-3.

But this is a new season and the Islanders are getting ready to play a Rangers team that is off to a strong start with three straight wins after a season-opening 3-0 loss to the Bruins.

“It’s a totally different year,” said Islanders forward Anthony Duclair. “We put last year behind us. We want to definitely replicate that. The Rangers are a different team. They’re dangerous. The last two games (wins over Detroit and Utah), they’ve played they looked really good, especially offensively. We have to make sure we’re connected again like we did against (New) Jersey, especially their top guys.”

Most of the Islanders roster is used to the rivalry with the Rangers, but there will be a few who will be experiencing it for the first time, namely rookie forward Victor Eklund who scored his first NHL goal in Saturday’s 6-0 win in the season opener against the Devils.

It will be his first regular-season taste of the Islanders/Rangers rivalry, but he knows a thing or two about rivalries from his experience in Sweden.

“It’s like back home with Djurgardens IF and AIK,” said Eklund. “I know how (much) fun these games are to play. I’m going to do my best.”

For the Islanders, Tuesday night is another chance to stack some Metropolitan Division points as this will be their second divisional contest over their first three games of the season.

It may be early in the season, but the last thing the Islanders want to do is be in a position where they have to chase points and make up grand at the end of the season.

“We all know the importance of the divisional games,” said Islanders Head Coach Peter DeBoer. “You know these are four-point games and you know they’re opportunities that you only get so many of. You get into the last 20 or 30 games of the season and you don’t want to be looking back at points you gave away, particularly in the division.”

Tuesday night will mark the first of four games this season between the Islanders and Rangers. They will meet again on December 20th at UBS Arena, February 12^th at Madison Square Garden, and the final meeting on February 18^th on Long Island.

Let this season’s “Battle of New York” begin!