The New York Rangers went into the 2016-17 season off a first-round playoff loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Now, they're first in the Metropolitan Division with a 16-7-1 record, and fresh off a win against the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday night.
"We didn't start off the game the way we wanted," Rangers coach Alain Vigneault said after Tuesday's game, his 270th game with the team. "You get behind the 8-ball against a hardworking team that can check real well, you need some people to come out and take charge."
The Rangers fell behind 2-0 in the first period, but after goals from Rick Nash and Nick Holden, rookie Jimmy Vesey put in the tie-breaking goal to give the Rangers a 3-2 win.
"I think the second period we started to get things going, playing with speed and getting possession, holding on to pucks down low in their end," Vesey said. "We got the first one and they might've tightened up. We talked about it before the game, but it was a big two points against an Eastern Conference team."
The Rangers have won 12 straight games against the Hurricanes at Madison Square Garden and are 20-3-0 against Carolina since Feb. 22, 2011.
The Rangers play their next game on Thursday night at the Buffalo Sabres.
The Rangers defeated the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday, then lost to the Ottawa Senators on Sunday, but bounced back by beating Carolina on Tuesday night.
Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist has been stellar this season, posting a 11-6-0-1 record with a .916 SV%, a 2.40 GAA, and 1 SO in 18 games played this season.
Islanders hit obstacles in the road: The New York Islanders sit last in the Metropolitan Division this season with a record of 7-10-4.
They have won only two of their last five games, with wins coming against the Anaheim Ducks and Calgary Flames, and the losses to the Pittsburgh Penguins, Los Angeles Kings, and San Jose Sharks.
"These guys can't catch a break right now," head coach Jack Capuana said after the loss to San Jose. "We played well in LA and played well again here tonight and tried to get it into overtime. They get a stick on a puck."
The Islanders face the Penguins on Wednesday night.
The Islanders search of their first win against the Penguins this season, going 0-1-1 in the first two meetings. Both meetings were tied 2-2 heading into the final five minutes, with the Penguins winning 4-2 in Pittsburgh, while the Islanders took them to overtime at Barclays Center.
Devils struggle, but just a bit: The New Jersey Devils at 10-7-5 sit fifth in the Metropolitan Division through their first 22 games this season.
However, the team has only won one of their last five games, which was against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Devils lost to the Jets 3-2 on Tuesday night, but play the Blackhawks on Thursday night.
Sabres last in the Atlantic: The Buffalo sabres sit last in the Atlantic Division at 8-9-5.
They face the New York Rangers on Thursday night. The team defeated the Senators 5-4 last night.
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