Rangers vs. Islanders: lineups, storylines in 1st of back-to-back set

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Rangers vs. Islanders: lineups, storylines in 1st of back-to-back set

Rangers vs. Islanders: lineups, storylines in 1st of back-to-back set — Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Jim Cerny · Forever Blueshirts

Wed, Jan 28, 2026 ·

5 min read

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One look at the Eastern Conference standings shows you that this home-and-home set on consecutive nights is less important to the New York Rangers than it is for the New York Islanders . Not that the Rangers see that way, though.

The Rangers (22-25-6) are last in the East ahead of their game Wednesday at UBS Arena against the Islanders (28-19-5), who sit third in the Metropolitan Division, four points clear of the Philadelphia Flyers and Washington Capitals . The Blueshirts are 11 points in arrears of the Islanders, and host their rivals in an immediate rematch Thursday at Madison Square Garden.

"They're having a really good year, and it's always fun to play against them," defenseman Braden Schneider said Tuesday about the Islanders. "It's an exciting rivalry and it's always a battle, and you want to go out there and compete and get the win because it matters."

Yes, it does matter. To the players. And to the fans. Whichever team is up, whichever is down, and if there are playoff implications at stake or not.

"I think the atmosphere in the building speaks for itself, really," veteran center Sam Carrick explained. "Any time we go there — I think we heard some 'Rempe' chants last year in an away building. It's loud in there when either team scores, so really it's an exciting game. In a way, it feels like a home game, it's so close to home. They're just fun, intense games."

There's an added twist to these games since the Rangers traded Carson Soucy to the Islanders on Monday, and the 31-year-old defenseman debuts with his new team against his old one Wednesday.

"Unique," is how Rangers coach Mike Sullivan called it.

Unfortunately, it'd be unique, in a way, if the Rangers actually scored a goal against the Islanders. They were shut out 5-0 by Ilya Sorokin at The Garden on Nov. 8, and blanked by David Rittich in a 2-0 loss on Long Island two days after Christmas.

It's a reversal of the success the Rangers had against the Islanders last season, when they swept the four-game season series against their archrival.

3 storylines when Rangers visit Islanders

NHL: New York Rangers at New York Islanders — Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

1. Follow it up

The Rangers come off an uplifting 4-3 overtime win over the Boston Bruins on Monday. Though far from perfect, the Rangers battled, didn't quit, and showed a lot of gumption erasing a 3-2 third-period deficit before rallying for the victory against a team that thumped them 10-2 just two weeks prior.

It was a rare feel-good moment for the Rangers in an otherwise massively disappointing season., especially as of late. You know they'd love to bottle that and carry it forward this week against the Islanders and beyond.

"They're going to be two fun games to play in, we have to worry about [Wednesday] first," captain J.T. Miller explained. "But we're going to try to keep going with some of this good energy and the confidence we gained last game."

2. Goodbye, hello

NHL: New York Rangers at Utah Mammoth — Rob Gray-Imagn Images

Two days after saying goodbye to Soucy, the Rangers say hello to their former teammate Wednesday. Soucy is expected to debut with the Islanders on their third defense pair alongside Adam Boqvist , wearing No. 4 on his sweater.

A pending unrestricted free agent at season's end, it was inevitable that Soucy would be traded by the Rangers, once they announced plans to retool the roster. Likely no one expected he'd end up on Long Island, after the only the fourth trade ever between the New York hockey rivals. But you can bet Soucy appreciates staying in the metro New York area, since his wife recently gave birth to their third child.

"They're getting a good pro. They're getting a real good person," Sullivan said after the morning skate ." They're getting a solid, two-way defenseman. Skates well, good mobility, defends pretty well. He's predictable, which I think is a good attribute to have."

Ondrej Palat also makes his Islanders debut Wednesday. The Islanders acquired the two-time Stanley Cup champion in a trade with the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday, with forward Max Shabanov heading back across the Hudson River.

3. Goalie shuffle

NHL: New York Rangers at Philadelphia Flyers — Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

With this being a back-to-back set, each team is expected to start different goalies in each game. Spencer Martin gets the call for the Rangers on Wednesday; it's his fourth start in the past six games. The 30-year-old journeyman is 1-2-0 in five games (three starts) with a 3.90 goals against average and .865 save percentage since he was recalled from Hartford of the American Hockey League after Igor Shesterkin landed on IR.

"It's special, pretty cool to be a part of," Martin said about hopping into the Rangers-Islanders rivalry.

Rittich starts for the Islanders. He's 4-0-0 lifetime against the Rangers with a miniscule 0.75 GAA and outstanding .975 save percentage.

Jonathan Quick , who moved past Glenn Hall for sole possession of 12th place on the all-time NHL wins list with 408 victories Monday, should start Thursday at MSG for the Rangers. Sorokin, coming off his League-leading sixth shutout Monday against the Flyers, expects to get the nod for the Islanders.

Side note: Shesterkin skated on his own Wednesday back at the MSG Training Center in Westchester. There's still no timeline for his return from a lower-body injury.