"The Skinny"
By Eric Hornick
Game 38
Isles 2, Rangers 1
On Tuesday, the Isles won a game that they led for 75 seconds; on Saturday, they won a game that Anders Lee scored 58 seconds in, and held a 1-0 lead until Simon Holmstrom iced the game with an empty-netter with 16 seconds to play.
In between, David Rittich made 27 saves, including a Carson Soucy penalty shot, for his second shutout of the season as the Isles blanked the Rangers 2-0 before a sellout crowd of 17,255 at UBS Arena.
The Isles are 8-3-1 in December and 17-8-3 in their last 28 games; they head to Columbus at 5pm Sunday in the back-end of this back-to-game.
The Scoring:
1st Period
Anders Lee (10) 0:58 NYR 0, NYI 1
2nd Period
None
3rd Period
Simon Holmstrom (8) 19:44 EN NYR 0, NYI 2
The Skinny
The Isles are 21-10-4 since they opened 0-3-0; the 46 points since October 16th are the most of any team in the Eastern Conference…The Isles went 0-5 on the power play but killed all three Rangers power plays; the Isles are 9-42 on the power play in the last fourteen games and have killed 8-10 over the last four games… The Isles are 11-1-1 when leading after two periods… Anders Lee scored his 299th goal, including 17 in 43 games against the Rangers; he now has a five-game point streak and is 4-5-9 in his last seven games…Simon Holmstrom's goal was the Isles 6th empty-net goal; had he not scored it would have been just the second 1-0 win over the Rangers (3/23/1995 – Tommy Soderstrom) and the first win in club history where the Isles won a game in which the only goal was scored in the opening minute…Holmstrom has points on three of the last four goals, and a three-game point streak (2-2-4); he is 4-4-8 in his last eight games.…The Isles reached 21 wins in only 38 games this season; it took them 48 games last season to win 21 games…The Isles have won both games this season by shutout; it is the second time in club history that they have blanked the Rangers in consecutive meetings (Semyon Varlamov – 4/29 – 5/1/21); the Isles blanked the Rangers four times in eight games that season, the only previous season they had multiple shutouts against the Rangers…David Rittich is now 4-0-0 in his career against the Rangers, allowing a total of three goals…The Rangers have been shutout eight times this season, but this was only the second time on the road, where they lead the NHL with 14 wins….Ranger coach Mike Sullivan remains with 498 career wins…The Isles are 8 games over NHL-.500, matching a season high…The Isles have been held to two goals or fewer in five straight games, going 2-2-1 in that stretch…David Rittich (and the Isles) now have a 104:25 shutout streak; Rittich set his career high of 137:56 in February 2021…It is the first time since April 2024 (six periods) that the Isles have not allowed a goal in at least five consecutive periods.
The Penalty Shot
Carson Soucy was awarded a penalty shot at 9:18 of the third period, which was stopped by David Rittich. Rittich has stopped five of seven career penalty shots. It was the first penalty shot attempt for Soucy, who has never attempted a shootout attempt in his 401 NHL games. It was the second save for the Isles on a penalty shot this season; Ilya Sorokin stopped Shane Pinto in Ottawa in October. Artemi Panarin scored on the Rangers' previous penalty shot this season.
It was the first penalty shot in an Islander-Ranger game since April 13, 2024 (Adam Pelech stopped at MSG) and the first by a Ranger since Rick DiPietro stopped Marian Gaborik on October 11, 2010, at the Coliseum; the Gaborik penalty shot also came with the Rangers shorthanded.
The Standings
The Isles move into 2nd place in the Metropolitan Division, one point ahead of Philadelphia and Washington; they remain three points behind Carolina.
Milestone Men
• Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock each played their 598th game, passing Kenny Jonsson for 3rd place among Islander defensemen and 20th overall.
• Anders Lee now needs one goal to become the fifth Islander with 300 goals.
• Lee recorded his 46th game-winning goal, one behind Brock Nelson for 3rd place in club history.
• Matthew Barzal remains at 347 assists, two behind John Tavares for 6th place.
• Ryan Pulock remains tied with Noah Dobson (230) for 6th on the club's defenseman point list; Pulock is two points behind Kenny Jonsson for 5th.
Rittich vs. the Rangers
• David Rittich is the third goalie with a career record of 4-0-0 or better against the Rangers (Benny Grant 7-0-0, Jim Franks 4-0-0). Neither of the others played after World War II.
• Rittich's career goals against average of 0.75 and career save percentage of .975 are the best of any goalie who has appeared in multiple games against the Rangers.
Most Shutouts This Season
1. Minnesota 7
2. Isles 5
3. Colorado 4
December to Remember
The Isles are 8-3-1 in the first twelve games this month, including five wins over teams that have won the Stanley Cup in the 2020s. The Isles have seventeen points in December and 93 points in calendar year 2025 (with three games to play); they had 11 points last December and finished calendar year 2024 with 86 points.
The Isles went 7-1-0 at UBS Arena in December; the 14 points match the most in a home December in club history (also 1978, 2003, 2023); they need two more points in December to reach 19, which would match the most since December 2003 (21); if they end the calendar year with a pair of wins they will match their highest December total in the post-Cup era.
Return to Form
Ilya Sorokin was 2-4-1 (.868 and 3.75) in his first seven games this season; he is 10-6-1 (.927 and 2.06) since October 31st with three shutouts. Only Jesper Wallstedt (4) has more shutouts in that span or this season; no goalie has more than eleven wins in that span.
Sorokin has won each of his first nine games facing at least 30 shots; that breaks a tie with Chico Resch's 1980-81 streak for the second-longest in club history, and the longest to start a season. Mark Fitzpatrick won ten straight when facing 30 shots in the 1989-90 season.
Big Save Dave
David Rittich is 9-3-2 on the season. In his last nine games (6-1-2), he has stopped 232 of 247 shots for a 1.62 GAA and a .939 save percentage.
Islander goalies not named Sorokin won only five games all last season (tying a franchise record for fewest by the non-winningest goalies on the team).
Most Ice Time by an Islander Teenager, Game
1. Matthew Schaefer 28:53 11/28/2025 vs PHI (SO)
2. Matthew Schaefer 28:12 12/9/2025 vs VEG
3. Matthew Schaefer 27:40 10/25/2025 at PHI (SO)
4. Matthew Schaefer 27:30 11/22/2025 vs. STL
5. Matthew Schaefer 27:23 11/23/2025 vs. SEA (SO)
6. Matthew Schaefer 27:03 12/27/2025 vs. NYR
A 20-year-old Islander has played more than 28:53 only twice (Bryan Berard -31:30; Travis Hamonic -28:54). The younger of these was Hamonic (vs PIT) on April 8, 2011, when he was 20 years, 235 days old; Schaefer will not hit that age until April 27, 2028.
Most Ice Time by an 18-Year-Old, Game
1. Rasmus Dahlin (BUF) 29:15 12/4/2018 vs TOR (OT)
2. Drew Doughty (LA) 29:04 11/22/2008 vs COL (SO)
3. Matthew Schaefer 28:53 11/28/2025 vs PHI (SO)
Schaefer has played at least 27 minutes six times and at least 26 minutes ten times. He is the first 18-year-old to do either of these things since ice time became official.
Most Goals by an 18-Year-Old Defenseman
1. Phil Housley (BUF) 17 (1982-83)
2. Bobby Orr (BOS) 13 (1966-67)
3. Matthew Schaefer 9 (2025-26), Rasmus Dahlin (BUF) 9 (2018-19), Zach Bogosian (ATL) 9 (2008-09)
Most Power Play Goals by an 18-Year-Old Defenseman
1. Phil Housley (BUF) 10 (1982-83)
2. Matthew Schaefer 5 (2025-26) and Rasmus Dahlin (BUF) 5 (2018-19)
Most Goals by an Islander Teenage Defenseman
1. Matthew Schaefer 9
2. Bryan Berard 7
Only nine Islander teenagers, regardless of position, have scored at least nine goals, led by Bryan Trottier's 32 and Pat LaFontaine' 26.
Most Assists by an Islander Teenage Defenseman
1. Bryan Berard 32
2. Matthew Schaefer 15
Only ten Islander teenagers, regardless of position, have recorded at least 15 assists, led by Bryan Trottier's 63 and Tim Connolly's 51. Schaefer is tied with Dave Chyzowski and Anthony Beauvillier with those 15 assists.
Most Points by an Islander Teenage Defenseman
1. Bryan Berard 39
2. Matthew Schaefer 24
Only ten Islander teenagers, regardless of position, have recorded at least 24 points, led by Bryan Trottier's 95 and Tim Connolly's 75. Schaefer is tied with Anthony Beauvillier with those 24 points.
Schaefer will still be a Teenager for the next 129 Isles games.
Most Games Played as an 18-Year-Old (Isles history)
1. Tim Connolly 81 (14-20-34)
2. Mathew Schaefer 38 (9-15-24)
Home for the Holidays
The Isles complete a stretch where they played 13 of their last 17 games at UBS Arena. They went 9-6-2 so far in this stretch (8-4-1 at home and 1-2-1 on the road).
Did Somebody Say Comeback?
The Isles have ten come-from behind wins this season, including four when they trailed in the third period. The opponents have come-from-behind to win seven times this season, including three times in the third period.
Overtime Is Our Time
The Isles are 3-0 in games decided by an overtime goal, and they are 3-4 in shootouts.
The Sixth Attacker
The Isles have scored six goals with the 6th attacker (most in NHL) and allowed 7 empty net goals.
Opponents have scored five goals with 6th attacker and allowed six empty-netters to the Isles.
Most Extra Attacker Goals, Isles (since 2009-10)
1. 2017-18 9
2. 2019-20 and 2023-24 7
4. Five years, including 2025-26 6
Most Career Empty Net Goals
1. Bryan Trottier 27
2. John Tavares 20
3. Mike Bossy 15
4. Brock Nelson 13
5. Jason Blake and Casey Cizikas 11
Building on a Lead
The Islanders have had a two-goal lead 20 times this season:
• Score the next goal: 8 times
• Allowed the next goal: 8 times
• Game ended with 2-goal difference: 4 times
Last Year vs. This Year
• 2025-26 21-13-4 for 46 points in 38 games
• 2024-25 14-17-7 for 35 points in 38 games; they reached 46/47 points in their 47th game.
Offense from Defense
• Today: 0-0-0
• Season: 15-53-68
• Last Season (Final) 32-129-161
Rookie Scoring
• Today: 0-0-0
• Season: 17-28-45
• Last Season (Final) 19-30-49
The 17 rookie goals are 2nd in the NHL while the 45 points are 3rd.
Home and Road
The Isles are 21-13-4 overall; they are 12-7-2 at home and 9-6-2 on the road.
The Rangers are 19-17-4 overall; they are 5-10-3 at home and 14-7-1 on the road.
East and West
The Isles are 12-8-4 against the East (6-4-2 vs. Metropolitan and 6-4-2 vs. Atlantic) and 9-5-0 against the West (3-4-0 vs. Central and 6-1-0 vs. Pacific).
First Things First
The Isles are 15-4-2 when scoring first and 6-9-2 when allowing the opening goal.
The Shots
Isles 10-7-9=26
Rangers 7-10-10=27
The Isles are 4-9-3 when they outshoot their opponents, 1-0-1 when the shots are even and 16-4-0 when the opposition has more shots.
In the Nets
David Rittich made 31 saves; he is 9-3-2 this season and 4-0-0 vs. the Rangers.
Igor Shesterkin made 24 saves; he is 16-12-3 this season and 9-10-1 vs. the Isles.
Special Teams
The Isles were 0-5 (10:00); the Rangers were 0-3 (6:00).
The Isles are 11-3-2 when they score at least one power play goal and 10-10-2 when they do not. The Isles are 6-6-4 when they allow at least one power play goal and 15-7-0 when they do not.
The Isles are 11-1-0 when they outscore the opposition on special teams, 3-6-1 when they are outscored, and 7-6-3 when special team goals are equal. (Their only loss when outscoring the opposition on special teams was in the home opener against Washington.)
Three is (Usually) a Magic Number
The Isles are 16-1-3 when they score at least three goals (including shootout winners) and are 5-12-1 when they do not.
One-Goal Games
The Isles are 12-3-4 in games decided by a single goal including 6-3 in regulation. They are 3-0 in games decided in overtime and are 3-4 in shootouts. The Isles are 4-2 in games in which an empty-net goal turns a 1-goal game into a 2-goal game.
Back-to-Backs
Including tonight, the Isles are 3-4-0 on the front end and 4-1-1 on the back end this season. This back-to-back concludes on Sunday in Columbus. The next back-to-back will be January 28-29 when they face the Rangers in a home-and-home series.
The Isles are 4-3-0 when the opponent is on the back end, including 2-1-0 when the Isles also played the previous day.
Ice-time Leaders
Isles: Matthew Schaefer (27:03); Rangers: Mika Zibanejad (24:19)
Bo Horvat led Isles forwards (22:41).
Face-offs
Isles 24, Rangers 33 (42%)
Bo Horvat won 11 of 19 for the Isles; Vincent Trocheck won 15 of 23 for the Rangers.
Hit Count
Isles 14 (Marc Gatcomb -5)
Rangers 24 (Will Cuylle -5)
Fights
None. Season total: 4 (Mayfield, MacLean, Lee, DeAngelo)
Blocked Shots
Isles 19 (Four with 3)
Rangers 17 (Two with 4)
For the Analytics Crowd
Corsi: All situations: Isles 59, Rangers 64
Corsi: 5-on-5: Isles 34, Rangers 45
5-on-5 leaders:
Isles: Tony DeAngelo +9
Rangers: Two with +8
High Danger Scoring Chances (per Natural Stat Trick)
All situations: Isles 11, Rangers 14
5-on-5: Isles 10, Rangers 9
Scratches
(Pierre Engvall-LTIR), (Semyon Varlamov-IR), (Ethan Bear-IR), (Alex Romanov-IR), (Kyle Palmieri-IR), (Ilya Sorokin -IR), Adam Boqvist, Max Tsyplakov, Anthony Duclair
Games Lost to injury: 181. (Last season's total: 304)
The Ironmen
Casey Cizikas is the Islanders' ironman, having played 146 consecutive games. Anders Lee (120) is the only other Isle to have also played every game since the start of last season.
National TV Games
The Isles are 2-1-0 in games that air on one of the NHL's US national broadcast partners. Their next appearance will be on ESPN+ on January 6th vs New Jersey.
Matinee Isles
The Isles are 2-3-2 in matinee games this season; the next matinee will be at 3:00pm on New Year's Day against Utah. The NHL considers games that start before 5:00 local time to be afternoon contests. Since the start of the 2019-20 season, the Isles are 17-20-14 in matinees.
Challenges
Isles: 0 successful, 1 failure (No goalie interference – VEG 11/14)
Opponents: 0 successful, 4 failure (No hand pass – WAS 10/11), (No interference – DET 10/23), (No offside – WAS 10/31), (No interference – COL 12/4)
Hockey Opps: 1 favorable, 1 unfavorable (No missed stoppage- NJ 11/10), (goalie interference -DAL 11/18)
Quickies (Two goals in under a minute)
For (2): DET 10/23, CBJ 11/2
Vs (4): BOS 10/28, COL 11/16, PHI 11/28, TB 11/30
Quick Responses (One team scoring within a minute of other team)
Isles responses (3): OTT 10/18, SJS 10/21, BOS 11/4
Opponent responses (3): WPG 10/13, CAR 10/30, COL 12/4
Multi-Goal 3rd Period Comeback Wins
For (0):
Vs (0):
Last Minute Heroes (Tying or go-ahead goals in the final three minutes of the third period):
For (7): Anders Lee, GWG(18:57)10/18 OTT, Matthew Schaefer, GTG (18:53) and Simon Holmstrom GWG (19:22) 11/2 CBJ, Kyle Palmieri GAG (17:07 11/10 NJ)- Isles won in OT, Mathew Barzal GTG (17:23 11/13 VEG)- Isles won in OT; Emil Heineman GTG (19:31 12/20 BUF)- Isles lost in OT; Adam Pelech (18:45 12/23 NJD)
Vs (3): Simon Nemec GTG (19:55 11/10 NJ) but NYI won in OT, Pavel Dorfeyev (19:46, 12/9 VEG) but NYI won in SO; Alex DeBrincat GWG (17:43 12/16 DET)
OT Winners
For (3): Mathew Barzal 11/10 @ NJ, JG Pageau 11/13 @ VEG, Matthew Schaefer 11/14 @ UTA
Vs (0):
Shootout Winners
For (3): SEA 11/23, VEG 12/9, TBL 12/13
Vs (4): PHI 10/25, BOS 11/4, PHL 11/28, BUF 12/20
All-time Islander Leader Boards:
Games Played (skaters)
1. Bryan Trottier 1,123 *** 2. Denis Potvin 1,060 *** 3. Josh Bailey 1,057 ***
4. Casey Cizikas 935 *** 5. Brock Nelson 901 *** 6. Bobby Nystrom 900 *** 7. Anders Lee 879 …
19. Frans Nielsen 606 *** 20. Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock 598 *** 22. Kenny Jonsson 597 *** 23. Garry Howatt 596 *** 24. John Tonelli 594 *** 25. Scott Mayfield 571 *** 26. Mathew Barzal 567
Goals
1. Mike Bossy 573 *** 2. Bryan Trottier 500 *** 3. Denis Potvin 310 ***
4. Clark Gillies 304 *** 5. Anders Lee 299 …
18. Pierre Tugeon 147 ***19. Mariusz Czerkawski 145 *** 20. Mathew Barzal 144…
24. Alexei Yashin and Frans Nielsen 119 *** 26. Steve Thomas/Matt Moulson/Mark Parrish 118 *** 29. Casey Cizikas 117
Assists
1. Bryan Trottier 853 *** 2. Denis Potvin 742 *** 3. Mike Bossy 553 …
5. Clark Gillies 359 *** 6. John Tavares 349 *** 7. Mathew Barzal 347…
18. Tomas Jonsson 249 *** 19. Anders Lee 233…
24. Ed Westfall 181 *** 25 Noah Dobson 180 *** 26. Ryan Pulock 176…
32. Ziggy Palffy 163 *** 33. David Volek 154 *** 34. Casey Cizikas 153
Points
1. Bryan Trottier 1,353 *** 2. Mike Bossy 1,126 *** 3. Denis Potvin 1,052…
10. John Tonelli 544 *** 11. Bob Bourne 542 *** 12. Anders Lee 532 *** 13. Bob Nystrom 513 ***
14. Derek King 499 *** 15. Mathew Barzal 491
27. Ed Westfall 286 *** 28. Casey Cizikas 270
+/-
1. Bryan Trottier +467 ***2. Denis Potvin +456 *** 3. Mike Bossy +380
15. Bob Lorimer +105 *** 16. Adam Pelech +89 *** 17. Tomas Jonsson +76 *** 18. Garry Howatt +75 *** 19. Pat Price +70 *** 20. JP Parise +67 *** 21. Ryan Pulock +64 *** 21. Jude Drouin +58 *** 23. Patrick Flatley +57 *** 24. Greg Gilbert +54
Defense Goals
1. Denis Potvin 310 *** 2. Tomas Jonsson 84 *** 3. Kenny Jonsson 57 ***
4. Ryan Pulock 54…
13. Bryan Berard 31 *** 14. Scott Mayfield 29 *** 15. Adam Pelech 28
Defense Assists
1. Denis Potvin 742*** 2. Stefan Persson 317 *** 3. Tomas Jonsson 249 ***
4. Nick Leddy 198 *** 5. Noah Dobson 180 *** 6. Ryan Pulock 176 …
9. Jeff Norton 166 ***10. Mark Streit 139 *** 11. Adam Pelech 138…
15. Tom Kurvers and Gerry Hart 108 *** 17. Scott Mayfield 101
Defense Points
1. Denis Potvin 1,052 *** 2. Stefan Persson 369 *** 3. Tomas Jonsson 333 ***
4. Nick Leddy 243 *** 5. Kenny Jonsson 232 *** 6. Noah Dobson and Ryan Pulock 230…
10. Mark Streit 179 *** 11. Adam Pelech 166…
15. Tom Kurvers 134 *** 16. Johnny Boychuk and Bryan Berard 131 *** 18. Scott Mayfield 130
Goalie Games
1. Billy Smith 674 *** 2. Rick DiPietro 318 *** 3. Glenn Resch 282 ***
4. Ilya Sorokin 277 …
8. Jaroslav Halak 177*** 9. Glenn Healy 176 *** 10. Semyon Varlamov 173
Wins
1. Billy Smith 304 *** 2. Glenn Resch 157 *** 3. Ilya Sorokin 137 …
7. Jaroslav Halak 88 *** 8. Roland Melanson 77 *** 9. Semyon Varlamov 76
Shutouts
1. Ilya Sorokin and Glenn Resch 25 *** 3. Billy Smith 22 ***
4. Rick DiPietro and Semyon Varlamov 16
On the Farm
Bridgeport fell 5-2 at home on Saturday to Hartford to fall to 11-14-1-1; Matthew Maggio and Alex Jefferies scored the goals for the Islanders.
Bridgeport heads to Springfield Sunday.
Leaders: Goals: Joey Larson- 10 (one of eight AHL rookies with at least 10); Assists: Matthew Maggio-15; Points: Maggio 20.
Goalies: Marcus Hogberg 5-7-2, 3.08, .881; Henrik Tikkanen 4-2-0, 2.76, .891
Season Series Stats
The Isles lead the season series, 2 games to 0 (and 4 points to 0), outscoring the Rangers 7-0. The teams will play again on January 28th at UBS Arena and the following night at MSG.
The Isles improve to 3-4-0 in seven UBS meetings all-time with the Rangers.
UP NEXT
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 28th —ISLANDERS AT COLUMBUS 5:00PM
[MSGSN (pre-game at 4:30), WRHU 88.7 FM, WRCN 103.9FM, Isles + UBS Arena App]
The Isles close out 2025 with a two-game road trip, beginning on Sunday in Columbus against the Blue Jackets.
The Isles won the first game on November 2nd at UBS Arena as they rallied from a 2-1 deficit with two late goals to beat the Jackets 3-2.
Much has changed since the Isles closed out the 2024-25 season with a 6-1 loss in Columbus on April 17th. The Isles lost both games in Ohio last season by a combined 8-1 score.
Eric Hornick has been the statistician on Islander home game telecasts since January 21, 1982. Information contained in "The Skinny" has been gathered from various sources. Follow Eric @ehornick on Twitter & on his blog www.nyiskinny.com
Forever1940 is the nom de plume of Eric Hornick, statistician on Islander home telecasts since January 21, 1982. Visit my blog: NYISkinny.com and follow me on Twitter @ehornick
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