Oct 6, 2026; New York, New York, USA; New York Rangers left wing Alexis Lafreniere (13) circles back to the bench after scoring a goal in the third period against the New York Islanders at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
NEW YORK — Alexis Lafreniere recorded his third career hat trick and Oliver Bjorkstrand added a pair in the New York Rangers’ 5-2 win over the crosstown-rival Islanders on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden.
The Blueshirts’ fourth straight victory (4-1-0) spoiled Islanders goaltender Semyon Varlamov’s night — the veteran returning from a double partial knee replacement to appear in his first game in 676 days dating back to Nov. 29, 2024.
Varlamov made 19 saves, but was outdueled by Rangers star Igor Shesterkin, who turned away 17 of 19 Islanders shots.
Bjorkstrand beat Varlamov on the Blueshirts’ first shot of the game 6:40 into a first period that had largely been controlled by the Islanders (1-2-0). But a one-timed slapshot from the right circle beat Varlamov over his left shoulder on the near side.
Lafreniere doubled the Rangers’ lead 25 seconds into the second period when he came down the left wing alone and sniped a wrister over the glove of Varlamov, who appeared to get a piece of it, but not enough.
The Islanders found a response in rapid fashion, with Bo Horvat and Cal Ritchie scoring just 1:56 apart to tie it up. On the power play, the new Islanders’ captain one-timed a feed from Matias Maccelli, who was behind the net, home for his second goal of the season.
Brayden Schenn’s hard work set the stage for the Islanders’ equalizer, taking on two Rangers defenders in the left corner, winning the puck, and centering it for Ritchie alone in front of goal. With no pressure around him, Ritchie held onto the puck and took off to his right, outwaiting a sprawled-out Shesterkin and slotting the puck around his pads with 4:52 gone in the second.
Bjorkstrand regained the lead for the Rangers with 2:53 left in the frame when he was found by Gabe Perrault in the left circle. His wrist shot gave Varlamov no chance.
Shesterkin did get bailed out by three posts, two from Schaefer in the opening two periods, and one in the third when Ondrej Palat unexpectedly split the Rangers’ defense. It was as close as the Islanders would come to an equalizer.
Lafreniere added a pair of empty-netters in the final two minutes.
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