![\"NHL:](\"https:\/\/images.deadspin.com\/tr:w-900\/28107416.jpg\")
Jan 28, 2026; Elmont, New York, USA; New York Rangers left wing Alexis Lafreni\u00e8re (13) defends against New York Islanders left wing Anthony Duclair (11) during the second period at UBS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images <\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\nThe New York Rangers rarely score against the New York Islanders and infrequently win on home ice.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Those are among the litany of reasons general manager Chris Drury recently announced the Rangers will attempt to retool their roster.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n The Islanders hope to capitalize on the struggles of their biggest rival and complete a season sweep Thursday night when they visit the Rangers.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n The Islanders have outscored the Rangers 12-2 in the first three meetings. The Isles coasted to a 5-0 rout at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 8, earned a 2-0 home win on Dec. 27 and scored twice in a span of 71 seconds late in the first period of Wednesday’s 5-2 home win.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n The Islanders’ latest win saw 11 different players record a point, including newcomer Ondrej Palat, who scored a goal in the first period and set up another by Emil Heineman late in the second. Simon Holmstrom also scored and set up power-play goals by Palat and Mathew Barzal.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n The Islanders are 10-6-1 in their past 17 games since dropping three straight Dec. 16-20.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n “I think every game (from) here on out is so pivotal,” Islanders defenseman Ryan Pulock said. “We know it’s going to be tight here on out. These games are big. Four-point games in our division, we want to (get) to the break strong. We’ve got to collect some points here. It’s going to be tight. Every point matters.”<\/p>\n<\/section>\n The Rangers made their first trade since Drury’s announcement on Jan. 16 when they dealt Carson Soucy to the Islanders, who sought another defenseman since losing Alexander Romanov to a season-ending shoulder injury.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n <\/p>\n On Wednesday, the Rangers held out Artemi Panarin for roster management purposes ahead of a possible trade between now and the March 6 deadline.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Panarin is in the final season of a seven-year, $81.5 million contract that includes a full no-movement clause. He will be an unrestricted free agent after the season and will be held out through at least the Olympic break if he does not get traded beforehand.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n “I think it was just getting the info that he wasn’t playing right before the game, you don’t have a lot of time to talk about that kind of stuff, but I played with him for seven years,” New York’s Mika Zibanejad said. “We’re all human beings at the end of the day, so this situation is really difficult.”<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Panarin’s potential trade and the retooling announcement is a result of the Rangers slipping to last place in the Eastern Conference, two years after winning the Presidents’ Trophy and getting to Game 6 of the conference finals.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n The Rangers are 2-8-1 in their past 11 games.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n On Wednesday, Zibanejad and Taylor Raddysh scored in a game in which the Rangers finished with 16 shots on goal. Spencer Martin allowed five goals on 36 shots.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n The Rangers are concluding the season series against the Islanders attempting to win consecutive home games for the first time this season. They are 6-13-4 at Madison Square Garden.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Before rallying for a 4-3 overtime win over the Boston Bruins on Monday, the Rangers dropped four straight home games – including an 8-4 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Jan. 14 that prompted Drury to announce a retool two days later. <\/p>\n<\/section>\n -Field Level Media<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n