Rangers and Islanders Clash Again With Playoff

New York Rangers vs New York Islanders March 3rd 2025

Making on a bet on this NHL game featuring the Islanders versus the Rangers? The puck drops at 7:00 ET, and you can watch it all unfold on ESPN+. The game will be played at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. The over/under for this game is set at 5.5 goals, and the Rangers are favored by -1.5 against the Islanders in a Metropolitan division matchup.

New York vs. New York Key Information

Teams: Islanders at Rangers
Where: Madison Square Garden New York
Date: Monday, March 3rd
Betting Odds NYR -126 | NYI +105 O/U 5.5

The Islanders Can Win If…

With a 5-2 loss to the Rangers, the Islanders are now 27-25-7. The total for the game was set at 6 goals, but the combined 7 goals surpassed that mark. As underdogs on the puck line, the Islanders failed to cover.

After falling behind 2-0, the Islanders got on the board with a goal from Casey Cizikas at 15:22 in the second period. The Rangers responded, and the Islanders cut the deficit to 3-2 with a goal from Brock Nelson at 19:52 in the second. However, the Rangers added two more goals in the third period, sealing the Islanders’ fate.

In their 5-2 loss to the Rangers, the Islanders fired 37 shots on goal but only found the net twice. Casey Cizikas scored his first goal of the season, while Brock Nelson added his fifth, with just 8 seconds left in the second period.

The Islanders were held scoreless in the first and third periods and recorded 23 giveaways. Pierre Engvall picked up his first assist of the season on Cizikas’ goal, and Simon Holmstrom added his fourth assist.

The Islanders’ defense gave up the first goal just 3:44 into the game and allowed two more in the 3rd period, including an empty-netter, resulting in a 5-2 loss to the Rangers. Ilya Sorokin made 35 saves with an 89.7% save percentage, while the Islanders’ defense added 17 hits and 12 takeaways.

The Islanders have posted a 2-1 record in their previous three games. Their record vs the puck line in these matchups is less impressive at 1-2, while posting an over-under record of 1-1-1.
New York has put together a record of 5-5 in their last ten games (regular season). Their record against the puck line in this stretch is 6-4 to go along with an over-under mark of 5-4-1.

The Rangers Can Win If…

The Rangers improved to 30-26-4 with a 5-2 win over the Islanders. New York covered the puck line as -1.5 goal favorites, and the total of 7 goals went over the pre-game line of 6.

Four different players scored for the Rangers, with Artemi Panarin leading the way with two goals. The Rangers held a 3-2 lead before adding two more goals in the third period to secure the victory.

Artemi Panarin led the way for the Rangers in their 5-2 win over the Islanders, scoring twice, including his 9th goal on an empty net. Earlier, he netted his 8th goal on a power play. Chris Kreider opened the scoring with his 8th goal, which came shorthanded. Vincent Trocheck added his 4th goal, while Adam Edstrom found the net for the first time this season.

Mika Zibanejad contributed with three assists, bringing his total to 8 for the season. The Rangers fired 40 shots on goal and had 14 giveaways in the game.

On the defensive side, Igor Shesterkin made 35 saves with a 94.6% save percentage, helping the Rangers secure a 5-2 win over the Islanders. The Rangers also had 18 blocks and 10 takeaways. After allowing a late goal in the second period, the defense shut out the Islanders in the third.

Spanning across their last three games, New York have gone 2-1. This also includes going 3-0 puck line and an over-under mark of 0-2-1.
The Rangers have gone 6-4 over their last ten regular season games. This includes going 5-5 vs. the puck line along with an over-under mark of 4-5-1.

The Lean

When making a moneyline pick, my choice is the Rangers to come out with a win against the Islanders while playing at home. Considering the moneyline odds at -126, I’m placing my bet on the Rangers to win outright.

For my recommended choice in the puck line, I’m leaning towards the Islanders to cover. Even if the Rangers secure a straight-up win, this game is expected to be tightly contested, and the Islanders should cover the puck line.

With an over/under line sitting at 5.5 goals, we like this game to surpass that mark and recommend getting a bet down on the over.

Rangers and Islanders Meet Again With Playoff Race Heating Up

The rivalry between the New York Rangers and New York Islanders always brings intensity, but Monday night’s meeting at Madison Square Garden carries extra weight. Both teams are in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff race, with crucial points on the line.

The Rangers enter the game with 64 points, tied with Ottawa and Boston for the second wild-card spot. The Islanders, sitting at 61 points, face a tougher path, needing to leapfrog multiple teams with just 23 games remaining in the regular season.

This will be the third meeting of the season between the two teams, with the Rangers winning both previous matchups by a combined score of 10-3. That includes a dominant 5-1 victory last Tuesday in Elmont, where they jumped out to a three-goal lead in the first period.

Can the Rangers extend their dominance over their rivals, or will the Islanders turn things around in a must-win game?

Rangers Finding Consistency at the Right Time

After a rough stretch earlier in the season, the Rangers have gone 14-7-3 in their last 24 games, recovering from a 4-15-0 skid that threatened their playoff hopes.

They rebounded from a frustrating 3-2 loss to Toronto with an impressive 4-0 shutout win over Nashville on Sunday.

J.T. Miller, acquired from Vancouver on Jan. 31, has been a key addition, scoring six goals since joining the team, including a power-play goal in the second period against Nashville. Jonathan Quick made 34 saves, including 19 in the third period, to secure the shutout.

“We’ll take the points right now,” Miller said after Sunday’s win. “We need them again tomorrow.”

The Rangers have been active at the trade deadline, moving Ryan Lindgren and Jimmy Vesey to Colorado while also holding out Reilly Smith, another unrestricted free agent who could be traded before the deadline.

With a playoff spot still up for grabs, New York is looking to solidify its lineup and continue its momentum against an Islanders team desperate for points.

Islanders Need a Strong Response

The Islanders have been inconsistent since their seven-game winning streak ended in early February, going 3-5-0 in their past eight games.

However, they are coming off one of their best offensive performances of the season, a 7-4 win over Nashville on Saturday, where they scored three times in the first period and capped the game with a rare empty-net goal by goaltender Ilya Sorokin.

Veteran Brock Nelson enters his 900th career regular-season game on a hot streak, posting three goals and five assists in his last five games. He led the way against the Predators, scoring twice and adding an assist.

“All these games are important for us to put as good of a run as we can together,” Nelson said.

The Islanders need more of that offensive production if they hope to keep pace in the playoff hunt.

Jean-Gabriel Pageau, a key two-way presence, scored only his second goal in his last 20 games, while Kyle Palmieri has found his scoring touch, netting five goals in his last six games.

Head coach Lane Lambert knows how much these games matter.

“Those games are big at this time of the season,” Pageau said. “We want to win them.”

Want to see how your team stacks up in the betting market? Check out the NHL Odds Page for real-time odds and lines!

Key Matchups to Watch

J.T. Miller vs. Islanders Defense
Miller has been a major boost for the Rangers’ offense, and the Islanders must find a way to slow him down, especially on the power play.

Brock Nelson vs. Rangers’ Blue Line
Nelson has been the Islanders’ most consistent offensive weapon. If he stays hot, the Islanders have a chance to break through against the Rangers’ defense.

Jonathan Quick vs. Ilya Sorokin
Both goaltenders are capable of stealing a game. Quick is coming off a shutout, while Sorokin is coming off scoring a rare empty-net goal. The battle between the pipes could decide the game.

What’s at Stake?

For the Rangers, another win over the Islanders would keep them firmly in the wild-card race and give them confidence heading into the final stretch of the season.

For the Islanders, this is nearly a must-win situation. A loss would make their playoff path significantly more difficult, especially with multiple teams ahead of them in the standings.

With both teams battling for their postseason lives, expect a fast-paced, high-energy game under the bright lights at Madison Square Garden. Will the Rangers continue their dominance, or can the Islanders fight back and keep their playoff hopes alive? The answer comes Monday night.

New York Rangers vs New York Islanders Picks and Predictions March 3rd 2025