Rangers Overcome Islanders 5-2 with Key Goals from Panarin, Kreider, and Edstrom

In a competitive showdown at Madison Square Garden, the New York Rangers emerged victorious over the New York Islanders with a 5-2 win on Sunday. Artemi Panarin led the Rangers' offense with two goals, and goaltender Igor Shesterkin registered 35 saves to help secure the team's second consecutive home win, following their 2-1 victory over Ottawa on Friday.

The Rangers took an early lead when Chris Kreider scored shorthanded just 3:44 into the game, his seventh goal of the season, with an assist from Mika Zibanejad. Rangers captain Jacob Trouba was in the penalty box at the time of Kreider's goal, giving the team a quick boost despite being down a player.

Vincent Trocheck extended the Rangers' lead to 2-0 early in the second period, capitalizing on a turnover by Islanders defenseman Samuel Bolduc. Reilly Smith intercepted the puck and delivered it to Trocheck, who converted the opportunity from the slot.

The Islanders narrowed the gap to 2-1 when Casey Cizikas found the net at 4:38 in the second period. Panarin responded by restoring the Rangers' two-goal lead at 11:04 with a power-play goal, making it 3-1. However, the Islanders answered back in the final seconds of the period, as Brock Nelson scored with just eight seconds left to reduce the deficit to 3-2.

Adam Edstrom widened the Rangers' lead in the third period, scoring his first NHL goal at 5:18. Panarin sealed the game with his second goal of the night — and his ninth of the season — into an empty net at 16:37, securing the Rangers' 5-2 victory.

Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin also made 35 saves in the hard-fought game.