Isles continue run against Rangers at Barclays Center
NEW YORK -- Scott Mayfield's first period goal gave New York a lead it would not relinquish Tuesday night, when the host Islanders continued to thrive against the rival New York Rangers at Barclays Center with a 4-2 win.
Jason Chimera scored later in the first period, Andrew Ladd scored in the second and John Tavares collected a power play goal in the third for the Islanders (10-10-5), who have won four of five (4-0-1) to climb out of last place in the Metropolitan Division.
Goalie Jaroslav Halak made 36 saves as the Islanders improved to 3-0-0 against the Rangers since moving to Barclays Center prior to last season
Jimmy Vesey and Marc Staal scored for the Rangers (17-9-1), who have alternated losses with wins in their last nine games. Goalie Henrik Lundqvist recorded 28 saves as the Rangers missed a chance to break a tie atop the Metropolitan with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Mayfield, who was recalled earlier Tuesday from Bridgeport of the American Hockey League as an emergency replacement for the ill Johnny Boychuk, gave the Islanders a 1-0 lead with a Boychuk-esque slap shot from the right faceoff circle 7:03 into the first.
Nelson served a four-minute penalty for high sticking before helping the Islanders double their lead with 2:36 remaining in the period. Nelson's shot from the right faceoff circle was slowed by Lundqvist, but he could not clear the puck and Chimera, standing to the left of the net, tapped it in.
The Rangers pulled within 2-1 just 56 seconds into the second period, when Rick Nash's shot bounced off the pads of Halak. But Halak could not corral the rebound and Vesey swooped in and tucked the puck into the left corner of the net.
The Islanders needed only 1:22 to retake the two-goal lead. After a turnover at center ice, Shane Prince descended upon Lundqvist and fired a shot that bounced off the goaltender. Ladd, following the play, put back the rebound for his first goal in the last 10 games.
The Rangers again closed the gap to one goal at 8:54, when Staal capped an impressive rush by firing a shot from the right faceoff circle that sailed over Halak's shoulder. J.T. Miller and Chris Kreider got assists following a pair of tape passes in the Islanders' zone.
NOTES: The Islanders scratched D Johnny Boychuk (flu-like symptoms) as well as LW Anthony Beauvillier and G Thomas Greiss. ... G Jean-Francois Berube served as the backup to G Jaroslav Halak. Berube has yet to appear in a game this season but has been active as the backup for the last eight games. ... The Rangers scratched D Adam Clendening, RW Michael Grabner and C Josh Jooris. Grabner is attending his grandmother's funeral in Austria and is expected to rejoin the Rangers for Thursday's game at the Winnipeg Jets. ... Rangers LW Marek Hrivik made his season debut after being recalled Monday from Hartford of the American Hockey League.