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10 Of The Best Games In Islanders-Rangers History

By Daniel Friedman
» More Columns

Not that you need any other motivation to get excited about Tuesday night's big game between the Islanders and Rangers, but we figured we'd give you some anyway. This historic rivalry has produced countless memorable moments; here are 10 of the best:

10. April 13, 2013: NYR 1, NYI 0 (OT)

Henrik Lundqvist 2013
Henrik Lundqvist makes a save against the New York Islanders at the Nassau Coliseum on April 13, 2013. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Dan Girardi's overtime winner at Nassau Coliseum breaks a scoreless tie in what had become a goalie clinic on both sides.

9. Oct. 28, 2009: NYI 3, NYR 1

John Tavares 2009
John Tavares returns to the bench after his third period goal against the Rangers at Nassau Coliseum on Oct. 28, 2009. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

John Tavares scored his first goal against the Rangers, as the Islanders won at the Coliseum. Tavares has 26 points (nine goals, 17 assists) in 27 career games versus the Blueshirts.

8. Oct. 15, 2011: NYI 4, NYR 2

Another milestone for Tavares -- this time it was his first hat trick in an Isles/Rangers tilt. He did it in front of the home crowd, too.

7. Feb. 25, 1979: NYR 3, NYI 2

The score doesn't really matter. What people remember, particularly Ranger fans, is Denis Potvin hitting Ulf Nilsson. The MSG faithful still haven't quite gotten over it.

6. Oct. 21, 1972: NYR 2, NYI 1

The first regular season game between the two teams. The Rangers left Nassau Coliseum with a win, and wound up winning all six contests against the Islanders in that inaugural season.

5. Oct. 14, 2014: NYI 6, NYR 3

Halak and Hayes
Rangers forward Kevin Hayes, right, tries to beat Islanders goal Jaroslav Halak during the teams' meeting at Madison Square Garden on Oct 14, 2014. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

The Islanders left MSG with a convincing 6-3 win, one that proved to be a launching point for what's been a very special season thus far.

4. May 8, 1979: NYR 2, NYI 1

John Davidson stood on his head, as the Rangers somehow repelled the favored Islanders and eliminated them from the playoffs.

3. March 5, 1994: NYR 5, NYI 4

Sergei Zubov netted the winning tally late in the third period, as the Rangers picked up their first win on Long Island since Oct. 28, 1989.

2. April 10, 1984: NYI 3, NYR 2 (OT)

The Islanders advance and keep their "Drive for Five" going, thanks to an overtime winner by unlikely hero Kenny Morrow.

1. Aprill 11, 1975: NYI 4, NYR 3 (OT)

J.P. Parise stuned the Rangers in overtime, sending the Islanders to their first playoff series victory and silencing the crowd at MSG. The goal arguably put the previously "hapless" Isles on the map and the rest of the NHL on notice that they'd arrived.

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