They have eight wins in their past 10 games against the Islanders, and swept all four games in the season series a year ago. Their most recent visit to UBA Arena was a memorable one. The Rangers scored a season-high nine goals in a 9-2 victory over the Islanders on April 10.

Given the unpredictable nature of injuries resulting from shots to the throat or neck area, Shesterkin could have realistically missed anywhere from a few days to as much as a month had the puck struck him differently—something the Rangers could ill afford.

There is a very good chance that many of the younger fans who attend Rangers games now couldn’t pick Denis Potvin out of a police lineup.

Rangers coach Mike Sullivan marvels at Matthew Schaefer's electrifying skating and game intelligence, calling the rookie defenseman an emerging star.

The Islanders will look to continue their strong play without injured No. 1 netminder Ilya Sorokin on Sunday night, when New York visits the Columbus Blue Jackets in a battle of Metropolitan Division rivals.

Mike Sullivan coached surefire Hall of Famers Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin for several years in Pittsburgh, so he knows a budding NHL star when he sees one.