Islanders at Rangers
THE STORY: While the New York Rangers have dropped a season high-tying three games in a row, the Islanders suffered a potentially crippling setback on Saturday. Coach Jack Capuano's club yielded a pair of goals in a 14-second span in the latter stages of the third period in a 2-1 loss to the New Jersey Devils. The defeat was the seventh in 10 games (3-6-1) for the Islanders, who will sit nine points out of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The two Empire State clubs will look to put an end their respective woes on Sunday when they meet at Madison Square Garden.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, MSG
ABOUT THE ISLANDERS (28-31-9): G Anders Nilsson was poised to record his second straight shutout in his third NHL start before the Devils spoiled the party. The rookie will likely give way to the veteran as Evgeni Nabokov, who would make his 600th career start. Nabokov, who has dropped four of his last five starts overall, has split his 12 career decisions versus the Rangers. The 36-year-old Russian improved to 2-3-0 this season by turning aside 33 of 36 shots in a 4-3 shootout victory on Feb. 24.
ABOUT THE RANGERS (42-18-7): After a 4-3 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday ended a fruitless three-game road trip, coach John Tortorella's club has seen its Atlantic Division lead shrink to four points with hard-charging Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and New Jersey all closing in. Perhaps a return home will reignite the Rangers, who have won six of their last seven at MSG overall - and six straight over the Islanders. All-Star G Henrik Lundqvist is looking to regain his form after yielding three goals or more in four straight starts.
OVERTIME:
1. All-Star John Tavares, who netted his 27th goal on Saturday, has collected 17 points in 10 career meetings with the Rangers.
2. Ryan Callahan has one goal in three games since returning from a foot injury. The Rangers' captain has one tally and four assists versus the Islanders this season.