Islanders vs Rangers: The New York Rangers try to stretch their winning streak to four games when they host the New York Islanders on Tuesday, Oct. 6, at Madison Square Garden. The Rangers (3-1-0) have won three straight since an opening loss, while the Islanders (1-1-0) are coming off a dominant shutout win of their own. With both teams already familiar with each other from a season-opening series, the early-season Metropolitan Division standings are already on the line.
Islanders Vs Rangers Game Information
- Date: Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026
- Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- Venue: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
- TV: ESPN
How Hot Is New York’s Win Streak?
The Rangers have won three in a row, outscoring opponents 11 goals to 6 over that stretch. The run includes a 5-1 win over Tampa Bay on Oct. 1, a 2-0 shutout at Detroit on Oct. 2 and a 4-2 win over Utah on Oct. 4. New York sits atop the Metropolitan Division with six points, two clear of Pittsburgh.
Adam Fox leads the Rangers with four assists and four points through four games. Eeli Tolvanen is the team’s leading goal scorer with three.
Goaltender Igor Shesterkin has been part of the story beyond stopping pucks. He scored an empty-net goal with 17:26 left in the third period of the Oct. 1 win over the Lightning, becoming the first Rangers goalie to score and just the 18th different goalie in NHL history to find the back of the net. Shesterkin stopped 24 of 25 shots that night. The 2022 Vezina Trophy winner is listed as the Rangers’ probable starting goalie for Tuesday, a designation that remains a projection until warmups.
Can The Islanders Build On Their Shutout?
The Islanders enter on a high note after blanking the New Jersey Devils 6-0 on Oct. 3. Goaltender Ilya Sorokin made 36 saves for his 30th career shutout, and rookie Viktor Eklund, the No. 16 pick in the 2025 NHL draft, scored his first NHL goal in the win. That bounce-back followed a 2-1 loss to Toronto on Sept. 30.
New York Islanders head coach has tabbed Semyon Varlamov as the probable starting goalie for Tuesday rather than Sorokin, per the official data, meaning the Islanders’ clean sheet against the Devils will not directly carry over between the pipes. Bo Horvat, named the 16th captain in franchise history on Sept. 14, and Matthew Schaefer, the franchise’s youngest assistant captain, lead a lineup still finding its footing at 1-1-0.
Who Is Banged Up Heading Into Tuesday?
The Rangers’ injury list has grown since their season-opening series with the Islanders. Center Joe Veleno is out with a lower-body injury, and backup goalie Joonas Korpisalo remains on injured reserve with a lower-body issue, both with a projected return of Oct. 9. Center Aidan Thompson (undisclosed) is also on injured reserve with a projected Oct. 11 return, and winger Adam Sykora remains out long-term with a lower-body injury not expected to resolve until late January.
The Islanders’ injury news centers on center Mathew Barzal, who is on injured reserve with a knee injury and is projected to return around Oct. 10. Brayden Schenn leads the Islanders with one goal and two points this season.
Islanders Vs Rangers By The Numbers
- Goals for (season total): Rangers 11, Islanders 7
- Points (season total): Rangers 28, Islanders 19
- Save percentage: Rangers .949, Islanders .968
- Goals against average: Rangers 1.50, Islanders 1.00
- Shots on goal (season total): Rangers 92, Islanders 59
- Shooting percentage: Rangers 12.0%, Islanders 11.9%
- Faceoff percentage: Rangers 52.3%, Islanders 48.5%
- Penalty minutes (season total): Rangers 42, Islanders 18
Key Matchup: Shesterkin Vs. A Struggling Islanders Offense
Shesterkin carries a .949 save percentage into a matchup against an Islanders offense that has scored just seven goals through two games this season. With captain Mathew Barzal sidelined by a knee injury, Brayden Schenn leads the Islanders with two points. Limited depth scoring and vulnerability on the road will test the Islanders’ ability to sustain pressure against a Rangers team allowing only 1.50 goals per game.
What To Watch
Both Metropolitan Division rivals have something to prove. The Rangers want to show their three-game surge holds up against a team they already faced twice, while the Islanders look to build momentum from their 6-0 shutout of New Jersey. With Barzal sidelined and Varlamov projected to start over Sorokin, goaltending becomes a secondary storyline in a contest where the Rangers’ depth and top-end talent should prevail.
Reporting from The Associated Press, ESPN, FOX Sports and USA Today contributed to this story. Official statistics: ESPN (official league data).
