Make that a season sweep and a leg up in the Metropolitan Division for the Islanders.
Behind superb goaltending from Thomas Greiss, who made 36 saves, and sparked by second-period goals from Shane Prince, Casey Cizikas and Frans Nielsen in a span of 6:17, the Islanders knocked off the Rangers, 4-1, for the fourth time this season and pulled into third place in the Metropolitan Division with a game in hand.
Whoever finishes in third likely will face the red-hot Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs beginning next week. The team in fourth — right now the Rangers — will claim the wild card and visit the Atlantic Division champion Florida Panthers in the first round.