Kaapo Kaako of the New York Rangers reacts to a third period goal by Matt Martin of the New York Islanders at Madison Square Garden on February 8, 2021. Credit: Getty Images/Bruce Bennett
Against all odds, the Islanders and Rangers on Thursday night find themselves playing one another in a very important hockey game at Madison Square Garden.
This was the combined result of an 0-2-1 slide by the Islanders and a 3-0 surge by the Rangers that got the latter to within reasonable distance of the fourth and final playoff berth in the NHL’s East Division.