Grading the New York Rangers’ Offensive Performance Against the Islanders

On Sunday afternoon, the New York Rangers defeated their crosstown rivals, the New York Islanders, 5-2, earning their eighth win of the season. The victory was a solid one, but not without its nuances, particularly when it came to the offensive side of the game. The Rangers faced an Islanders team that was missing key players, including Matthew Barzal, Anthony Duclair, and Adam Pelech, all of whom could have made a difference. While the Islanders were shorthanded, the Rangers took advantage of the situation, scoring five goals—one of which was an empty-netter by Artemi Panarin—and putting on a clinic in special teams. However, despite the strong overall performance, there were some areas where the offense showed both potential and areas for growth. Let’s dive into the specifics of the Rangers’ offensive performance, break down the key moments, and assign grades to their lines and overall output.

At the core of Sunday’s performance was the offense’s ability to capitalize on opportunities, something that has been a hallmark of the Rangers’ early-season success. While the team scored five goals, the Islanders’ goaltender, Ilya Sorokin, was a constant source of frustration for New York, racking up 35 saves and keeping the scoreline closer than it might have been otherwise. Despite Sorokin’s stellar performance, the Rangers were able to dictate the play for much of the game, showing depth and balance in their offensive attack.

One of the key changes that head coach Peter Laviolette made was mixing up the forward lines, specifically reuniting Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad, and Alexis Lafreniere on the first line. This combination generated quite a bit of buzz heading into the game, as Zibanejad had been struggling to find his rhythm in the early part of the season. Pairing him with Panarin and Lafreniere seemed like a logical move to spark some offense, given the high offensive ceiling of the trio. In the end, Zibanejad did get on the score sheet with three assists, but none of those came at even strength. His contributions were all on special teams: one assist on Chris Kreider’s shorthanded goal, another on a power-play goal, and a final assist on Panarin’s empty-netter. While Zibanejad’s point total was solid, it’s worth noting that his line wasn’t able to convert much at even strength. That being said, the line still had flashes of brilliance, with Zibanejad displaying good playmaking vision and Panarin continuing to show his elite-level creativity.

In terms of overall effectiveness, the Panarin-Zibanejad-Lafreniere line earns a B+. They showed potential, but the lack of even-strength production prevented them from receiving a higher grade. The chemistry was there at times, and they were able to generate pressure in the Islanders’ zone, but the lack of five-on-five goals was a slight letdown for what many expected to be a dynamic trio.

On the second top-six line, Kreider, Filip Chytil, and Kaapo Kakko were once again a reliable source of energy. While they didn’t manage to find the back of the net on Sunday, the line had solid puck possession and did a good job of cycling the puck down low. Chytil, in particular, has been one of the Rangers’ brightest stars this season, showing off his offensive upside and defensive responsibility. Although there were no tangible results on the scoreboard, the line created several scoring opportunities and showed strong puck movement. Chytil’s ability to support both Kreider’s physical presence and Kakko’s creativity made the line effective in controlling the play, even though the Islanders were able to weather the storm. Given how well this trio has meshed to start the season, it’s likely that they will continue to develop chemistry as the season progresses. For their efforts on Sunday, this line deserves a B. It was a solid performance, but they’ll need to produce more consistently at even strength moving forward.

The Rangers’ bottom-six forward lines, particularly the trio of Vincent Trocheck, Reilly Smith, and Will Cuylle, were key contributors in Sunday’s win. Trocheck, in particular, had a milestone moment, scoring his 200th career goal off a well-executed feed from Smith. It was a crucial goal, putting the Rangers up 2-0 and helping to establish the team’s dominance. Trocheck’s goal was a testament to the line’s ability to generate offense in the absence of top-tier players from the Islanders. Smith, who had a reputation as a gritty two-way forward, continues to show that he can contribute offensively as well, and Cuylle has been a revelation in his continued development. This line has the makings of one of the more effective bottom-six units in the league. Given their combination of grit, skill, and scoring potential, this trio earns an A for their overall performance on Sunday.

Even the Rangers’ fourth line found a way to contribute on the scoresheet, with Adam Edstrom potting a scrappy goal to make it 5-2 late in the game. The fourth line, composed of Edstrom, Jimmy Vesey, and Sam Carrick, has been effective at generating momentum and energy for the Rangers, even if they’re not expected to carry the load offensively. With Vesey’s return to the lineup, this line could become a more consistent contributor over time. While the goal was certainly a product of some good forechecking and determination, the play of this line on Sunday was enough to warrant a B+ grade. While they might not have the offensive flash of the top-six lines, their work ethic and ability to chip in when needed should not be overlooked.

When evaluating the Rangers’ overall offensive performance in this game, it’s clear that special teams were a significant factor. The Rangers excelled on the penalty kill, as they were able to shut down all five of the Islanders’ power-play opportunities. The shorthanded goal from Zibanejad on Kreider’s opening goal was particularly important, as it gave the Rangers a crucial early lead and set the tone for the rest of the game. On the power play, the Rangers were able to capitalize on one of their three chances, with Panarin’s goal helping to increase their lead. The power play remains a potent weapon for the Rangers, and the team’s ability to take advantage of special teams opportunities played a significant role in their 5-2 win.

As for the overall grade for the Rangers’ offensive performance, I would give them a B+. While they scored five goals, two of which came on special teams, there were still areas of improvement. The new line combinations showed promise but didn’t convert at even strength as much as expected, particularly with the Panarin-Zibanejad-Lafreniere line. However, the depth scoring from the bottom-six lines was encouraging, and the team’s ability to score on the power play and kill penalties was crucial in securing the win. If the Rangers continue to build on their depth scoring and improve their even-strength play, they’ll be in a good position to challenge for a top spot in the division. Overall, the offense was solid but not without its flaws, and there’s plenty of room for growth as the season progresses.

However, the Rangers’ 5-2 victory over the Islanders showed that they are a team with offensive depth and the ability to capitalize on special teams opportunities. While the top-six forward lines still have some work to do in terms of converting at even strength, the bottom-six lines and special teams were key contributors to the win. If the Rangers can continue to get balanced scoring across all four lines and maintain their special teams efficiency, they’ll be a tough team to beat as the season moves forward.