In Cam We Trust: Victorious goalie Cam Talbot is congratulated by Marc Staal and teammates after making 29 saves to lead the Rangers past the Islanders 2-1 in the 126th and final regular season meeting at Nassau Coliseum between bitter rivals.
AP Photo by Kathy Kmonicek/Getty Images

Since the Islanders came into the NHL, they’ve played in one barn. That it’s coming to an end is one of sports sad stories. For more than 40 years, Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, Long Island has been home to a proud franchise that won four consecutive Stanley Cups. For the Rangers, they have been part of one of the biggest rivalries spanning four decades. In what was the 126th and final regular season meeting, the Rangers topped the Islanders 2-1 to win in enemy territory. By winning the final two, they finished 54-63-8-2 against their arch rival.

In the latest installment of the Battle Of New York, the story was goaltending and tight checking. Unlike the most recent meeting- a whirlwind 6-5 comeback win on Feb. 16, this one was much lower scoring and more like a playoff series. If there is to be a final act that includes games at the Coliseum, it might not come off until the second round. If it does, it could prove memorable for a rivalry that hasn’t seen a playoff match-up since 1994. A Rangers first round sweep en route to their first Cup in 54 years.

The Rangers are 2-0-1 in their last three yet have only scored four total goals. The biggest reason for it has been the steady play of Cam Talbot. After struggling early replacing injured starter Henrik Lundqvist, Talbot has been at his finest turning aside 86 of 90 shots giving the Rangers five of a possible six points to close within one point of first place. After shutting out Chicago in a 1-0 overtime win, he made 29 saves to put his team in great position to win the Metropolitan Division.

In improving to 41-17-7, the Rangers are up to 89 points in 65 games. They’re now at 38 regulation and overtime wins. Two better than the Islanders, who have played four more games and only have 13 left. By comparison, idle Pittsburgh has 86 and 35 ROW with 16 games remaining. Fourth place Washington is locked into the first wildcard with 82 and 33 ROW with 15 left. Ironically. the Rangers will see the Capitals next in a back-to-back later tonight in D.C.

Rookie Anders Lee celebrates his 23rd goal with Johnny Boychuk during the first period for the Islanders.
AP Photo by Kathy Kmonicek/Getty Images

Throughout, Talbot had to be sharp. Especially in a first period controlled by the Islanders. As they’ve done during the season series, they started off well scoring the first goal again. Rookie Anders Lee was able to slip one past Talbot for his 23rd. During a strong forecheck, Brock Nelson and Ryan Strome combined to work the puck to Lee, who escaped Dan Boyle’s check and surprised Talbot with a stuff in at 9:35.

Boosted by the goal, the Islanders carried the play outshooting the Rangers 13-7. They were unable to extend their lead due to Talbot, who kept his team in it. His teammates picked it up in a better second. They were able to get the game tied thanks to another highlight reel goal from wiz kid Kevin Hayes.

Rookie Kevin Hayes is congratulated by Marc Staal and Carl Hagelin after tying the game in the second.
AP Photo by Kathy Kmonicek/Getty Images

After a power play expired, Rick Nash made a great defensive play on Lubomir Visnovsky freeing up the puck to Mats Zuccarello. Zuccarello made a great headman feed springing Hayes, who outskated and outmaneuvered Thomas Hickey before turning around and deking Jaroslav Halak with a sweet forehand finish. The play was indescribable. Basically, Hayes used his size, strength and speed to avoid Hickey, who took Halak out allowing Hayes an easy finish for his lucky 13th at 11:35. 

”I wanted to fake backhand to see if he bit on it,” Hayes explained after ending a four-game scoreless drought. ”The defenseman bit on it, and I stopped. He went by and I knew I was one-on-one with the goalie. I just faked one way and went the other.”

Talbot made his biggest save on Josh Bailey with 1:23 left denying him on a breakaway. Bailey forced Marc Staal into a turnover at the Ranger blueline. Breaking in on Talbot, he tried to go five-hole but Talbot patiently outwaited him on his deke and backhand covering up the dangerous chance.

”I was just trying to stay patient,” Talbot said. ”I think he just tried to open me up a little bit. He did, but luckily I had my stick there.”

That kind of patience has resulted in Talbot’s best play as a pro. Over his last four starts, he’s 3-0-1 with a 0.99 goals-against-average, .965 save percentage and a shutout. Since taking over for Lundqvist, he’s 11-2-3. As a team, the Rangers are 12-2-3 without their best player. Talbot’s responsible for keeping them alive for the division and possibly the top seed in the East. Though I’m not exactly fond of finishing first and drawing likely wildcard Boston in the first round. Not that the Caps are any better. The East is much improved and will prove more challenging this Spring.

Ultimately, the difference was a fluky Nash goal less than three minutes into the third. In what can best be described as a lucky bounce, Nash took a Derick Brassard feed and took a shot from the right circle that deflected off Strome’s skate past Halak for his team-leading 39th. It was his first goal against a goalie since Feb. 20. One he’ll take.

”It was a real lucky goal,” Nash said after recording a goal and assist. ”I was thinking about dumping it, and then I saw I could get the blue line.

”I pulled up and I saw three of our guys going to the net. I just shot it anywhere in the direction of the net, and lucky enough it went in.”

Shortly after, the Rangers killed a Brassard holding minor. They also failed on an abbreviated power play midway through the stanza. With Brian Strait off for high-sticking, Keith Yandle took down Frans Nielsen denying a shorthanded opportunity canceling the man-advantage which eventually gave the Islanders a 5-on-4 for 46 seconds. They were unable to capitalize due to strong penalty killing.

The Islanders’ best chance came when Talbot had a mishap behind the net. It led to a great opportunity for Okposo but a diving block by Staal broke it up. Following a couple of aggressive Ranger forechecks killing precious time, Islander coach Jack Capuano pulled Halak for an extra attacker with over a minute left. They had good puck possession for the first half a minute but never got the shot they wanted.

”A tough one to lose like this,” Halak said after making 20 saves. ”We have plenty of hockey left and we need to do a better job. … I thought we played better than them.”

The Rangers were able to keep John Tavares off the board. The league’s leading scorer entered on a tear with seven points over his previous three games. Reunited with sidekick Kyle Okposo, who returned after missing 22 games due to eye surgery, the Isles’ captain only had one shot and lost 9-of-17 faceoffs. Josh Bailey remained on the top line allowing Lee to move down to the second line with Strome and Nelson. Michael Grabner sat out.

”We know we can be better,” Tavares said. ”There’s a lot of areas that we can be better in.”

Notes: For the first time all season, the Islanders were without Nick Leddy. The defenseman suffered an injury in Monday’s win at Toronto. Nothing new has been reported. Brian Strait took his place finishing minus-one with three hits, three blocked shots and two giveaways in 24 shifts (16:57). … The one change for the Rangers was Tanner Glass in for James Sheppard. He took 15 shifts (8:48) and had two more shots than Chris Kreider. Kreider was demoted to the fourth line by Alain Vigneault. J.T. Miller took his place on the second line. Vigneault even trusted Miller in the final minute sending him out. A real eye opener. …

As a team, the Isles blocked 25 shots led by Johnny Boychuk’s five. The Rangers had 14 with ultimate warrior Dan Girardi pacing them with four. … In the final meeting, the teams combined for 63 hits with the Rangers holding a 32-31 edge led by Staal’s four. Matt Martin led the Isles with 5 including a heavy cruncher on Zuccarello. He also collided hard with goalscorer Hayes which looked curious. He made little attempt to stop sending Hayes into the goal. He just shrugged it off celebrating his goal. … Faceoffs were in favor of the Isles 32-23 with Nielsen a dominant 10-and-2. Hayes went 4-and-3. Derek Stepan was .500 (7-for-14). … The Islanders (43-22-4) get two days off before hosting Ottawa Friday and Montreal Saturday.

BONY 3 Stars:

3rd Star-Anders Lee, NYI (goal-23rd, 3 SOG, +1 in 14:15-bright future)

2nd Star-Rick Nash, NYR (game-winner-39th, assist-23rd, 5 SOG, 8 shot attempts, +1 in 18:34-dominant)

1st Star-Cam Talbot, NYR (29 saves incl. 12/13 in 1st-tremendous)