When the Rangers recalled Brennan Othmann from the Hartford Wolf Pack, it was viewed as insurance in case a banged up Chris Kreider couldn’t go. With Kreider missing a second straight game due to an upper-body injury, Othmann made a good impression in the Rangers’ 5-1 win over the Islanders at Elmont.

Despite lining up on the fourth line, Othmann had a positive impact on the game. Playing with Jonny Brodzinski and Matt Rempe, the 2021 first round pick found some chemistry. The Rangers were led by their supporting cast in winning for the second consecutive game.

With the game still scoreless despite frantic chances at both ends, Sam Carrick’s check on Casey Cizikas kept a play alive down low. With a distracted Cizikas giving Carrick a cross-check, that allowed Urho Vaakanainen to take a Reilly Smith back pass and beat a screened Ilya Sorokin for the game’s first goal. Both Carrick and Rempe were parked in front.

After the Islanders responded less than two minutes later when Alexander Romanov had his shot go through a Kyle Palmieri screen past Igor Shesterkin to tie the score, it was the Rangers’ fourth line that went back to work to retake the lead. On a good forecheck from both Othmann and Rempe, Vaakanainen and Braden Schneider combined to find Brodzinski open for a shot that beat Sorokin. It was part of a big night for Brodzinski, who recorded three points to earn the game’s second star.

With less than a minute to play in the period, it was again the tenacious work of Othmann and Rempe that led to Brodzinski getting his second of the game to make it 3-1. After Ryan Lindgren moved the puck to Adam Fox, he found Brodzinski in the high slot for a long wrist shot that eluded Sorokin.

On the goal, Othmann was in front and waved his stick at the puck. On MSG Networks during an intermission segment, Steve Valiquette believed that Othmann made contact with the puck. However, they never made any scoring change. It’s hard to tell if it was his first NHL goal. Even if he didn’t get it, Othmann was in the right position on what amounted to a big goal, which put the Islanders in a two-goal hole to conclude the first.

Despite the Islanders dictating most of the action in a second period that saw them outshoot the Rangers 14-6 and outchance them by a wide margin, they never beat Shesterkin again. Unlike his poor showing in a dismal loss to the Sabres last Saturday, he delivered a second straight good performance by making 36 saves on 37 shots. That followed up 37 saves in Sunday’s 5-3 come from behind victory over the Penguins. In the two wins, the Rangers have been outshot 77-34 but came out on top due to taking advantage of some poor goaltending.

It was the Rangers who cashed in on their chances to put the game away. Mika Zibanejad set up J.T. Miller in front for his fifth goal as a Ranger to make it 4-1. Miller’s up to nine points in eight games since he came over from Vancouver. He had a big goal late in the second period against the Penguins two days earlier.

For good measure, it was the Brodzinski line that put the game out of reach a few minutes later. After taking a Lindgren feed up top, Brodzinski had his shot tipped in by Rempe to make it 5-1. It was Rempe’s second goal of the season and first since Jan. 21. Since returning from an eight-game suspension last month, he’s proven that he can be trusted by the coaching staff to play a more responsible physical style while continuing to be effective.

On a night when the top line wasn’t a factor, the fourth line led the way to an important victory that allowed the Rangers to keep pace with the Red Wings and Blue Jackets in the wild card race. They remain four behind Detroit and two behind Columbus with 24 games left.

In his season debut, Othmann came close to scoring on his first shift. He skated well and finished a plus-3 in over 12 minutes. Brodzinski finished with two goals and an assist. Rempe scored his third career goal. The Brodzinski line was the difference along with Shesterkin, who outplayed close friend Sorokin (5 goals allowed on 11 shots in 2 periods).

The only negative is that both Fox and K’Andre Miller didn’t finish the game. Miller left early in the second period. Fox exited early in the third after taking a penalty when he landed on his shoulder. Both were being evaluated according to Rangers coach Peter Laviolette. The next game isn’t until Friday at home against the Maple Leafs. So, they have a couple of days off to find out if Fox and Miller will be available.

If anything was gained from last night, it’s that Othmann looked like he belonged. That should earn him another game. However, when it comes to trusting young players, the Rangers operate very differently. Arthur Kaliyev was a healthy scratch while both Smith and Jimmy Vesey played. The trade deadline is fast approaching. Changes should be coming soon.