Photo by Jenn G (CC BY-SA 2.0), via Wikimedia Commons

Alexis Lafreniere's hat trick lifts Rangers to 5-2 win over Islanders

The New York Rangers kicked off their 2026-27 NHL season with a dominant 5-2 victory over the Islanders in the first Battle of New York, extending their win streak to four games. Alexis Lafrenière led the charge with a career third hat trick, including two empty-net goals in the final minutes, while Oliver Bjorkstrand added two goals of his own.

The Rangers’ offensive breakthrough came after a slow start, with their first shot on goal not falling until the seventh minute, but they capitalized immediately when Bjorkstrand capitalized on a defensive mix-up to score the game’s opening goal. The second period saw a back-and-forth exchange, with the Islanders cutting the deficit twice before Bjorkstrand restored the Rangers’ lead late in the frame.

Meanwhile, rookie Cole Beaudoin made his NHL debut after being called up from the AHL, finishing with a plus-1 rating despite not recording a point. The game also featured notable penalties, including a pair of fights between Rangers captain J.T.

Miller and Islanders forward Brayden Schenn, and a concerning incident where Simon Holström was helped off the ice after taking a shot to the face.

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