Isles ready for initial Blueshirt invasion
Arch Rival Rangers to Visit Barclays Center Wednesday Night
The Islanders won for the third time in four games Monday night, using an empty-net goal from Ryan Strome to seal a 5-3 victory over the visiting Colorado Avalanche in front of 11,585 fans at Barclays Center.
But rather than bask in the glory of picking up at least a point for the fourth straight contest, the Islanders (13-8-4, 30 points) quickly shifted their focus toward the one game every hockey enthusiast in the Big Apple has been waiting for since the franchise officially relocated here in November.
Even Strome, who just rejoined the team on Thanksgiving Day after beginning the year with the Islanders’ American Hockey League affiliate in Bridgeport, Conn., revealed his excitement following Monday’s win.
“We’ve all had it circled for a while,” Strome admitted when asked if he and his teammates were revved up for Wednesday night’s epic clash with the Metropolitan Division-leading arch rival Rangers in Downtown Brooklyn.