If you had any excitement for last night’s latest installment of the Battle of New York, the Islanders only needed 58 seconds to shut that down. Anders Lee put in a rebound of a Mat Barzal shot to give the Islanders the lead for good in another frustrating shutout loss for the Rangers. This time, it came on the road with the Islanders getting 27 saves from backup David Rittich in a 2-0 win at Belmont Park.

Following their win over the Caps before Christmas, it was a huge letdown for the Rangers, who can’t seem to manufacture offense consistently. They went from putting up five in a third period comeback win to getting blanked for the eighth time this season. They haven’t even reached the halfway point, but they’re on pace to break the NHL record for most times shut out in a season. If they reach 16, they’ll accomplish it. At least they’re making history in their 100th Anniversary season. They already have been shut out a record six times at home.

It feels like a comedy watching this team. They can go from one extreme to the other rather quickly. How else would you explain beating the Flyers, losing to the Predators followed by beating the Caps, and then being blanked by the Islanders over eight days? Exactly. Maybe an exorcist is needed.

While the Rangers continue to mystify our fans by relying on the same players, the Islanders continue to be the best story among the area locals.

Ever since they selected defenseman Matthew Schaefer with the number one pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, things have changed dramatically for the franchise. The teenage sensation didn’t record a goal or assist in the game. However, he was very effective throughout in logging a game-high 27:03 of ice time. The 18-year-old registered two shots on goal and had another seven attempts while playing well defensively for the Islanders.

Even with him being forced to play in his zone more by the Rangers, Schaefer handled the workload with ease. To be that young and have that much poise. It didn’t matter if the Rangers had the edge territorially. They didn’t generate any high danger chances during Schaefer’s shifts. It was the Islanders who got the only two high danger chances with their lottery prize on the ice.

One of the things that haunted the Rangers was a slow start. Before they looked up, Carson Soucy’s turnover led directly to Lee potting his 10th in the game’s first minute. There was no coverage due to the miscue from Soucy behind his own net, which gave Igor Shesterkin no chance after he made the initial stop on Barzal before Lee put in the rebound.

The Islanders were the faster team by controlling most of the first period. Barzal drew a penalty on Vladislav Gavrikov less than four minutes in with his team already up. If there was an area that let down the Islanders, it was the power play, which went 0-for-5 against a strong Rangers penalty killing unit.

By taking the collar in five opportunities, the Islanders fell to 27th in the league. Despite having Schaefer, who entered yesterday tied for the team lead with Bo Horvat in power-play goals, they only click at 15.7 percent.

While the Islanders continued to pile up shots on Shesterkin, who was very good in finishing with 24 saves, it took the Rangers nearly 12 minutes to finally get a shot on Rittich. Following a couple of Will Cuylle tried in close, they finally settled in and had seven of the last 10 shots.

Rookie Brennan Othmann probably had the best chance, but his attempt missed wide. It’s been very challenging for the 2021 first round pick to score. He’s still without a goal in 31 NHL games. Despite receiving less than six minutes while playing on the fourth line, Othmann was more noticeable during his shifts. Unfortunately, Saturday’s game was dictated by special teams. So, he hardly touched the ice in a penalty filled third period.

Early in the second period, some hard work from Othmann helped his line create some chances against the Islanders. However, Rittich shut down Matt Rempe and Sam Carrick. The 33-year-old veteran has continued to play well for Patrick Roy. Prior to the holiday break, he made 31 saves in a win over the Devils and was named the game’s first star. He’s only allowed three goals over his last three starts entering Sunday’s game at the Blue Jackets. Without Ilya Sorokin, who could be activated off injured reserve on Tuesday, Rittich has made the big stops for the Islanders.

Of course, the Rangers had to kill off a couple of penalties during the second. When Artemi Panarin finally drew a penalty on Max Shabanov to give them a power play, they thought Cuylle had tied it. But a video review showed that his shot hit both the crossbar and goalpost to stay out.

That’s how it seems to go for them with the man-advantage. It’s either Cuylle or Mika Zibanejad who score on the mind-numbing top unit that really misses Adam Fox. Encouraging is that Fox is getting very close to a return. If he isn’t activated for tomorrow’s game at Carolina, he’ll likely be ready for the Jan. 2 Winter Classic against the Panthers.

On another power play with Adam Pelech off for tripping, Cuylle came close again, but he had his shot hit another crossbar. It was the only attempt the Rangers got in a waste of two minutes. By the time Alexis Lafreniere got a tough long shot on Rittich that he handled, the power play had expired. Sullivan stuck with his first unit that included rookie defenseman Scott Morrow as the quarterback.

Rittich’s best save came when he denied Artemi Panarin on a breakaway in the first minute of the third period. He followed that up with a stop on Lafreniere, who again was more effective throughout. If only he didn’t have Soucy fumbling a pass at the blue line on one strong shift.

There in lies the problem with the Rangers’ defense. Without Fox, they’re anemic. Even Morrow isn’t producing. But he’s in his first full year after coming over from the Hurricanes for K’Andre Miller, who’s again out injured with another game versus his former team on Monday.

A dubious call on Noah Laba (tripping) led to some four-on-four action due to Tony DeAngelo (interference) also receiving a minor penalty. During it, Scott Mayfield had Shesterkin beat on the near side, but his shot ring off the goalpost. Shesterkin then made big stops on Schaefer and Horvat to keep the Rangers within range.

Fittingly, it was Soucy who got the best chance when he got behind the Islanders’ defense for a breakaway. After having his backhand attempt go wide due to rookie Cal Ritchie getting him from behind, the refs awarded Soucy a penalty shot. Not known for his offense, he asked Jonathan Quick for advice. It didn’t make a difference. Soucy’s wrist shot was shrugged aside by Rittich with 10:42 left.

With Vincent Trocheck in the box for holding, Horvat was all set up in the slot, but he had his shot ring off the crossbar. The Rangers were able to kill off the penalty to remain alive.

In what amounted to another tease which has become their trademark, they failed miserably on a late power play with Ritchie off for taking down Vladislav Gavrikov. Both Panarin and Morrow had their attempts go whistle wide. That summed it up. There was a lot of deferring to Panarin, who couldn’t seem to shoot straight.

Following the power failure, Shesterkin had to contend with Horvat, denying him twice to give his team one final chance. He really should sue for run support. The Rangers are the gang that can’t shoot straight. If it was a soccer net, they’d probably still fire it either into the crest, off the crossbar, or miss completely.

Even with Horvat taking an unnecessary offensive zone penalty by tripping Laba with 3:01 remaining, it only led to the inevitable. A couple of long Panarin shots that actually forced Rittich to make saves. With time winding down, a Morrow giveaway allowed Simon Holmstrom to score into the open net to salt it away.

In two games versus the Islanders, the Rangers have been outscored 7-0. At least this one was competitive. Right now, it’s their bitter rivals that are sitting three points behind the Hurricanes out of first place in the Metropolitan Division. They’ve figured out how to win the close games under Roy, who’s done a great job with a team that wasn’t expected to challenge for the playoffs.

The Islanders are moving in the right direction. The Rangers look like they’re stuck in neutral. Maybe getting Fox back can help change the narrative. It’s still a flawed roster that’s way too reliant on Panarin and Zibanejad. Especially without J.T. Miller. It’s getting late early.