While the Rangers continue to solidify their position in the Eastern Conference playoff race, the Islanders are hoping to enhance their slim chances of catching their rivals.
The in-state rivals meet Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden, where the Rangers have won five of the past seven meetings.
The Rangers (36-30-4) have won three of four after a 3-2 shootout victory Saturday at San Jose, tying them with Buffalo for seventh place in the crowded bottom half of the postseason picture.
Leading scorer Brandon Dubinsky has just one goal in his last 13 games, but he netted the shootout winner after Ryan Callahan tied it in the third period.
“We have to be sure to win our games that are left and let the rest league figure it out,” Dubinsky said.
Henrik Lundqvist made 31 saves and improved to 3-1-0 with a 1.96 goals-against average in his last four starts following a three-game skid. He’s 6-1-1 with a 2.27 GAA in his last eight against the Islanders, and 3-1-0 with a 2.61 GAA against them this season.
“I really played my game,” Lundqvist said. “We were pretty calm in the third. We haven’t had a lot of games where were that flat, but (Saturday) we came out really hard and strong. This game was so important for us. We needed the points.”
Marian Gaborik, who has a goal and an assist in three games since returning from a concussion, had a hat trick Dec. 2 in a 6-5 win against the Islanders. Gaborik has 23 points and four multi-goal games in 19 career meetings, including four goals and three assists in four matchups this season.
The Rangers have scored 15 goals in three straight wins against the Islanders after losing 6-4 at Nassau Coliseum on Oct. 11.
Another Rangers victory would guarantee their third straight season-series win against the Islanders, who hope to continue making an unlikely push toward the playoffs.
The Islanders (27-32-11) are 11 points back of the Rangers in 14th place with 12 games remaining, meaning they’ll need plenty of help to reach the postseason. However, they’re 4-0-2 in their last six after falling 3-2 in overtime Saturday at red-hot New Jersey.
Blake Comeau, who has three goals and three assists against the Rangers this season, scored for the third time in four games. John Tavares netted only his second goal in his last 12.
The Islanders missed an opportunity to take a two-goal lead in the third period, and the Devils quickly tied it soon after before winning in OT.
“That was obviously the turning point of the game,” said coach Jack Capuano, whose team has lost four in a row on the road – the last three in overtime. “We could have gone up 3-1. How many times do you see them come back and score right away?”
Al Montoya made 32 saves and is 4-0-2 with a 2.10 GAA in his last six, but he’s never faced the Rangers, the team that drafted him sixth overall in 2004.
The Rangers have won six of the last eight meetings in the series.