Yes, the Islanders and Rangers were in the same place at the same time Thursday night, with entertaining results. Truth is, though, they really inhabit different seasons.
The Islanders are all-in on 2018-19, having put themselves in the mix for a playoff spot and having entered Madison Square Garden only one point out with three games in hand. The Rangers are all about next year or the year after, having committed to a rebuild that likely will see them trade one or more veterans rather than try to add reinforcements for a postseason push.
That’s just the way things have worked out so far in their respective stages of development.