5 Takeaways: Islanders Shut Out Rangers 4-0

The New York Islanders got back in the win column on Thursday night with a dominant 4-0 shutout over the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden.
The win snapped the Islanders three-game winless streak (0-2-1) and halted the Rangers three-game winning streak. With the win, the Islanders magic number to clinch a playoff berth is four, meaning they can punch their ticket with a regulation win over the Rangers on Saturday.

Thursday's win featured 'Islanders hockey,' a relentless effort as the team received balanced scoring, a strong defensive performance, a 1-for-2 night on the power play, a perfect 2-for-2 penalty kill and superb goaltending from Semyon Varlamov (25 saves) who set a new career high with his sixth shutout of the season. Leo Komarov, Oliver Wahlstrom (power play), Anthony Beauvillier and Mathew Barzal all found the back of the net, while Brock Nelson and Scott Mayfield each posted two assists.
"There was a lot to like," Islanders Head Coach Barry Trotz said of the win. "We were connected in all three zones and we just stayed with it. We didn't deviate the whole game. We were hard to play against, it was probably frustrating for them. It was our game."
On the flip side, Igor Shesterkin made 23 saves on 26 shots for the Rangers.
Here are five takeaways from the Islanders' win over the Rangers:

ISLANDERS GET BACK TO THEIR GAME

Following three-straight games of disjointed play from the Islanders' offense, the team had four lines firing on all cylinders, received sturdy defense and stellar goaltending to support it and put on an assertive clinic at times.
"We were ready to play tonight, we knew it," Trotz said. "We weren't scared of the event, if you will. A lot of people were poking holes at the Islanders the last couple days because we didn't get it done against the Washington] Capitals but this is a proud group. They knew what was on the line and they played that way."
**ISLANDERS AT RANGERS**
**ISLANDERS ARTICLES**
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ISLANDERS RANGERS VIDEO
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Uncle Leo Roofs One
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Postgame: Trotz
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KINGER'S CALLS
Uncle Leo's Icebreaker
Wahlstrom's PPG
Beauvillier Buries
The first period featured a strong, well-rounded effort from the Islanders, who entered the first intermission with a 2-0 lead. Following an early, but unsuccessful power play opportunity 2:56 into the game as Artemi Panarin tripped Noah Dobson, the Islanders fed off the momentum.
As they mounted a push with chances on the fly, Shesterkin kept them at bay including back-to-back chances from Beauvillier, but the Islanders' push finally broke at 6:27 as Komarov scored his first of the season. Following a zone entry by Nick Leddy, Jordan Eberle threaded a pass across the slot to Komarov for a one-timer, knee-drop shot to put the Islanders on the board.
As the period wore on and the Rangers generated a few chances of their own, highlighted by a Ryan Strome breakaway, which was denied by Varlamov and supported by a strong back check and stick check from Leddy. When the Islanders earned their second power play chance of the opening period they made the most of it, as Wahlstrom made it 2-0.
As the second period got underway, the Islanders didn't waste any time in extending their lead and maintaining the 3-0 score heading into the final intermission. Following Nelson's faceoff win at the left circle, Mayfield sent a cross-slot feed to Beauvillier in the high slot. Beauvillier ripped his one-timer blocker side of Shesterkin to boost the Islanders lead 3-0.
The Islanders' goal didn't deflate the desperate Rangers squad, who put up a 10-9 shot advantage in the period. While the Rangers generated some decent looks, most of their chances were kept to the outside courtesy of the Islanders' in-sync defense and strong backchecks by its forwards. The Islanders even kept the Rangers lethal power play off the board following Beauvillier's hooking penalty at 10:01.

The Islanders kept the pressure on in the third period and even strengthened their lead to 4-0. After taking a boarding penalty at 12:19 and another strong effort from the Islanders' penalty kill - Barzal was gifted with the puck on his stick as he stepped out of the box. The Rangers net was completely vacant as they had pulled Shesterkin in exchange for the extra attacker to take full advantage of their power play. Coming out of the box, Barzal took his time before scoring on the open net, which marked his first goal in 13 games and first since his hat trick on April 1st.
The Islanders were strong the remainder of the period to finish out the game with a 27-25 shot advantage and most importantly, improve their place in the standings. The two points were huge for the Islanders, who were able to defend their third-place rank (65 points) in the East Division standings over fourth-place (64 points) Boston, who also earned a win on Thursday also with a 5-2 win over Buffalo.
"The win was just special for this room for everyone involved," Wahlstrom said postgame. "The locker room is just buzzing right now. We were grinding a little bit for the past week. So to see everyone smile again and put on the tunes was awesome. Big win for sure."
Video: NYI@NYR: Varlamov earns sixth shutout this season

VARLAMOV SETS CAREER-BEST WITH SIXTH SHUTOUT

After not dressing in Tuesday's game against the Washington Capitals, due to "soreness," Varlamov was excellent in his return. The 33-year-old set a new career-high with his sixth shutout of the season, three of which have come against the Rangers. In the process Varlamov became the first goalie in the NHL to record three shutouts against the Rangers at Madison Square Garden.
While the Islanders were dominant early in the game, Varlamov came up with timely saves at vital points. In addition to the early stop on Strome, Varlamov also held off a Mika Zibanejad shorthanded chance.
In the second period, the Russian netminder continued his sharp game as he seemed to stop - and visibly see - everything that came his way. Midway through the period, Varlamov gloved a Zibanejad one-timer from the right faceoff circle. Late in the period, and after holding off the Rangers' power play unit, Varlamov made key stops as he gloved a chance from Kevin Rooney at the right faceoff circle and denied a wrist shot from Vitali Kravtsov.
While the Islanders largely held control of the third period, the Rangers chances came in waves and often with scrambles around the net front, but Varlamov was solid in the period to preserve the shutout.
With the win, Varlamov improved his record to 18-9-4 and has recorded a shutout in consecutive games, dating back to a 1-0 shootout loss on April 22.

PERFECT PENALTY KILL

The Islanders penalty kill continued its dominance.
Even during the Islanders recent struggles, the Islanders' penalty kill has been a bright spot for the team. With its 2-for-2 execution against the Rangers, the Islanders' PK unit has now killed 28 of the last 29 opponent power plays - against some of the most dangerous power plays in the NHL - and has scored a shorthanded goal in that span as well.

BEAUVILLIER'S RANGERS RAMPAGE CONTINUES

If there's a player to watch against the Rangers - and one who knows how to put on a show on Broadway - its Beauvillier.
With a goal in Thursday's game, the 23-year-old winger continued his dominance against the Islanders' crosstown rivals. In 20 career games against the Blueshirts, Beauvillier has totaled 21 points (11G, 10A) with a plus-eight rating. Throughout his five years in the NHL, there's no other team that Beauvillier has had more success against.
With the goal, Beauvillier improved his season totals to 21 points (11G, 10A) through 40 games.

KOMAROV, DOBSON RETURN TO LINEUP

Komarov returned to the lineup for the first time since April 22nd, while Dobson drew back in the lineup after being a healthy scratch on Tuesday night. Komarov replaced Travis Zajac and skated on the wing of Barzal and Eberle.
In addition to igniting the Islanders' scoring with his first-period goal, Komarov totaled 13:56 of ice time, including 1:02 on the penalty kill, threw to hits, had one shot, one block and finished the game plus-one.
"He's Uncle Leo," Trotz said. "He's fun to have in the dressing room. When it matters for the games, he's the guy that has an effect on the game."
Dobson returned to his usual spot alongside Andy Greene on defense and quarterbacked one of the Islanders' power play units. The 21-year-old blueliner played 13:59, including 2:05 on the power play, and was plus-one.

NEXT GAME:

The regular season finale between the Islanders and Rangers will take place on Saturday at Nassau Coliseum. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m.