The Islanders kept their recent success against the Rangers going Thursday night with a 7-5 victory at Barclays Center — improving to 10-1-2 over their cross-river rivals since the 2015-16 season — in a penalty-filled game.
The game featured nine minor penalties and four power-play goals. One of those minors came when the Islanders’ reigning Calder Trophy winner, Mathew Barzal, broke his stick over the Rangers’ Brett Howden and was called for cross-checking.
Howden could have been called for holding Barzal’s stick before that, but Barzal’s retaliation was what got him nabbed.
Then Islanders coach Barry Trotz stapled Barzal to the bench for the final 7:18 of regulation with his team trying to protect a lead.