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The New York Rangers and New York Islanders haven’t met in the postseason since 1993-94, but Monday’s intense game between the two teams had all the makings of a Stanley Cup playoff game.
It’s hard to replicate the atmosphere that buzzed around the Nassau Coliseum as fans of both sides chanted and screamed to see who could be the loudest. That atmosphere was constant all night as the Rangers rallied to stun the Isles 6-5 and draw within two points of first place in the Metropolitan division.
The game was about as exciting as regular-season hockey gets, but the bigger picture is an awakened rivalry that should only continue to heat up. The Rangers and Isles are both heading to the playoffs this season barring a huge collapse, and the thought of a seven-game series between them is intriguing.
Both New York teams play similar styles with great speed and stiff defense, making it an entertaining clash every time the teams play each other. Every game the Rangers and Isles have played this season has been fast-paced, and it’s a sign of what’s to come in the future for this rivalry.
There’s so much hockey left and plenty of time for the standings to shift, but it’s great to see this New York rivalry return. The two teams haven’t been this good in the same season in a long time; both teams have a great coaching staff and a solid nucleus of players for the coming years, so the next few seasons should feature many more exciting inter-city clashes. The return of this rivalry is great for hockey in general and especially exciting for all New York fans.
