Lafrenière’s Hat Trick Powers Rangers Past Islanders as Hot Start Continues

The first Battle of New York of the 2026-27 regular season belonged to the Rangers.

Alexis Lafrenière recorded a hat trick and four points, Oliver Bjorkstrand scored his first two goals as a Ranger, and the Blueshirts defeated the rival New York Islanders 5-2 Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden.

The victory pushed the Rangers to 4-1-0 and extended their winning streak to four games, while improving them to a perfect 3-0-0 at Madison Square Garden. It is a dramatically different opening at home from a season ago, when New York lost its first seven games at the Garden. (NHL)

And while the final score eventually became comfortable, this was hardly a routine three-goal victory.

The Rangers had to respond after watching an early two-goal lead disappear. They did exactly that.

Lafrenière Takes Center Stage

For a Rangers organization that has spent years waiting to see Alexis Lafrenière consistently take over games, Tuesday provided another glimpse of just how impactful he can be.

Lafrenière was involved from the beginning.

His aggressive forecheck helped create New York’s opening goal at 6:40 of the first period. After separating Matthew Schaefer from the puck behind the Islanders net, Lafrenière helped get the puck to Oliver Bjorkstrand, who buried his first goal in a Rangers uniform.

Then, just 25 seconds into the second period, Lafrenière became the scorer.

Mika Zibanejad delivered a stretch pass through the neutral zone and Lafrenière finished the opportunity to give New York a 2-0 advantage. (NHL)

The Islanders would make things interesting before Lafrenière eventually finished them off.

With Semyon Varlamov pulled for the extra attacker late in the third, Lafrenière scored into the empty net at 18:22. Thirty-two seconds later, he did it again, completing his third career NHL hat trick.

When it was finished, Lafrenière had three goals, one assist and his second career four-point game. (NHL)

It was the kind of performance Rangers fans have always envisioned from the former No. 1 overall pick — creating offense, forcing turnovers and eventually taking over the scoreboard.

Islanders Erase the Lead — Rangers Answer

The Rangers appeared to be firmly in control after Lafrenière made it 2-0 early in the second.

Then everything changed in less than two minutes.

Bo Horvat scored on the power play at 2:56, cutting the deficit in half. Calum Ritchie followed at 4:52, beating Igor Shesterkin after a feed from Brayden Schenn and suddenly tying the game at 2-2. (NHL)

It could have become the turning point of the night for the Islanders.

Instead, the Rangers settled down.

And with 2:53 remaining in the second period, Bjorkstrand delivered the biggest goal of the game.

New York went to the power play following a Brayden Schenn holding penalty, and Bjorkstrand ripped a shot from the left circle past Varlamov at 17:07 to put the Rangers back in front 3-2.

They never surrendered the lead again.

It was a significant night for Bjorkstrand, who entered Tuesday still looking for his first regular-season goal since joining the Rangers. He left with two of them — including the game-winner.

For a Rangers lineup looking to generate more scoring depth beyond its established stars, getting Bjorkstrand going could prove extremely important.

Rangers Show Their Ability to Protect a Lead

Perhaps the most encouraging part of the victory came after the Rangers took the 3-2 lead.

There was no collapse.

There was no extended period of simply hanging on.

The Rangers controlled enough of the third period to keep the Islanders from generating the tying goal before Lafrenière’s two empty-netters finally ended it.

Shesterkin made 17 saves on 19 shots and earned his third consecutive victory. He has allowed two goals or fewer in each of his four appearances this season. (NHL)

More importantly, the Rangers once again demonstrated an ability to manage a game.

Through their first five contests, New York has been tied or leading after 14 of the 15 periods it has played. The Rangers have also yet to allow a first-period goal this season — their longest such streak to begin a season since 1939. (NHL)

Five games do not make a season.

But those are meaningful early indicators.

Zibanejad Quietly Keeps Producing

Lafrenière and Bjorkstrand owned the headlines, but Mika Zibanejad quietly put together one of his best distributing performances of the young season.

Zibanejad finished with three assists, including the terrific pass that sprung Lafrenière for his second-period goal.

It continued a strong start offensively across the lineup.

Adam Fox and Gabe Perreault extended their point streaks to four games, while Will Cuylle moved his streak to three. Lafrenière, Zibanejad, J.T. Miller and Vladislav Gavrikov have each recorded points in consecutive games. (NHL)

That’s exactly what the Rangers need.

For too long, stretches of Rangers hockey have been defined by waiting for one particular line, one superstar or Shesterkin to carry them.

This start feels different because the production is coming from multiple places.

A Remarkable Return for Varlamov

There was also an important story happening on the other side of the rivalry.

Islanders goaltender Semyon Varlamov made his first NHL appearance in 676 days after undergoing partial replacements on both knees.

The 38-year-old stopped 19 of the 22 shots he faced before the Rangers added their two empty-net goals. He helped keep the Islanders within one throughout most of the third period despite eventually taking the loss. (NHL)

Regardless of the rivalry, simply returning to an NHL crease after that type of layoff and rehabilitation is an accomplishment.

The Battle of New York Belongs to the Rangers — For Now

Rangers-Islanders games rarely need additional motivation.

Tuesday had everything expected from the rivalry: momentum swings, physical play, a J.T. Miller-Brayden Schenn fight, special-teams goals and a third period in which the Islanders remained one shot away from tying the game until the closing minutes.

But when the opportunity came to finish the night, the Rangers did it.

That’s the difference.

New York has now won six of its last eight home games against the Islanders and ended a four-game regular-season losing streak against its local rival dating to last season. (NHL)

More importantly, the Rangers continue to bank points.

At 4-1-0, they have eight points through five games and entered Wednesday riding the NHL’s longest active winning streak. (NHL)

There is a long way to go, but the early identity is beginning to become clear.

They’re getting scoring throughout the lineup.

They’re defending leads.

They’re controlling first periods.

And when an opponent punches back, they’re finding an answer.

Tuesday night, that answer was Lafrenière.

Three goals. Four points.

And another Rangers win.

Final: Rangers 5, Islanders 2.

The Rangers return to action Friday, October 9, when they visit the Washington Capitals. (NHL)

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