For the sake of team morale, Rangers had to return to the Siegessäule after two bitter defeats, but another two-goal lead slipped through their fingers.
The Islanders scored three goals in the third period to rally and hand the Rangers a 4-3 loss – their third straight – at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night. It was the kind of ending to a game that can take a team’s breath away. The kind that can sting just a little bit longer than other regular-season losses.
Rangers coach Gerard Gallant said he was pleased with his team’s overall performance despite the loss, but the final frame was a mixed bag of events that allowed the Islanders to hit the home team where it hurt: the scoreboard.
“We played well, we deserved the game tonight,” Gallant said. “We didn’t get it, we deserved the game tonight. Played well enough. I liked the way we played, fought and fought hard. The Islanders are the best team in the league in the third period. They found a way to score three goals again in the third game. But I liked the way we played most of the game.”
The Islanders celebrate Kyle Palmieri’s goal in their comeback win over Rangers on Tuesday. Robert Sabo
After a strong second half for the Rangers, in which they scored two power-play goals to put a 3-1 lead into the third, the Islanders wasted no time in piecing together their comeback. Defenseman Adam Pelech scored just 14 seconds (14!) in the third game to cut Rangers’ lead to one, which Gallant admitted his team was surprised.
Filip Chytil was then later called to the hook in the third round to give the islanders a power play. And for the first time this season, the Islanders scored a second man-advantage goal in a game, this time after a one-timer from Brock Nelson to level the score at 12:46 with 3:46.
But Islanders forward Oliver Wahlstrom then got away with a trip on Kaapo Kakko, leading to Islanders captain Anders Lee’s go-ahead at 2:30 p.m. Gallant didn’t want to elaborate on what he’d seen the Islanders’ last two goals score, but it was clear the coach had an opinion on how they’d played out.
“Of course there’s a sense of urgency after a loss, but I can’t say you feel a lot of stress when you’re 3-1 up,” said Artemi Panarin, who provided assists on Rangers’ second and third goals on the power play in the second period , said with the help of an interpreter. “After the last few games where you’re trying to do well but your game just isn’t up to par, definitely a bit of a stress.
Mika Zibanejad and the Rangers let another lead slip away in a loss to the Islanders on Tuesday. Robert Sabo
“We have a good team, a good captain, we just need a few good games to turn things around.”
Amid a 6-5-3 start to the season, there’s certainly a growing sense of urgency in the Rangers dressing room. Conversations about team confidence and how to navigate the current adversity have dominated talks of late.
Much of that game, Vincent Trocheck said after scoring on the power play at 13:37 of the second period, was mental. The Rangers now have to fight their way through this state of mind.
“This is a difficult start to the season for us,” said captain Jacob Trouba. “We will keep working on it. We still have a lot of games to play here but I don’t think the start we’ve had is lost for anyone. The time is ticking. We don’t have all the time in the world here, but we have to find a way to play a better game.”