NHL Rivalry Reborn: Memorable Moments Between the Rangers and Islanders

Since 1972, the birth of the Islanders has led to a NHL rivalry between the New York teams.

The Rangers and Islanders have been heated rivals since the beginning, and when the two teams play, it is usually a brawlfest.

Today, the Rangers and Islanders continue their rivalry with a morning matinee.

It will certainly be an exciting game and with the Rangers coming off a huge victory in Buffalo, they will have loads of momentum going into Long Island.

In the Islanders lone 2010-11 regular season game, they were defeated by the Dallas Stars in overtime. With new tough guys in both teams’ lineups, this is an exciting game in the makings.

Moment Number 5: March 8, 2007

The Rangers and Islanders met for a late season match up on Long Island. The score was tied 1-1 late in the third period, when Chris Simon took his stick and swung it at Ryan Hollweg’s head.

The Rangers players immediately went after Chris Simon and pushed him into the Rangers bench. Not many punches were thrown, but Simon was thrown out of the game and given a suspension by the NHL.

Moment Number 4: February 24, 2004

The Rangers and Islanders met up for a mid-season game in Long Island. The Rangers were leading 2-0 mid second period when things got out of hand.

While the puck was being controlled behind the net by an Islander defenseman, a brawl was forming near the penalty box boards.

In an instant, a line brawl began. Matthew Barnaby and Aaron Asham threw each other around for 20 seconds, Chris Simon and Eric Godard threw some huge blows at each other before tumbling to the ice, and Rangers defenseman Dale Purinton was pummeled by Eric Cairns.

The Islanders won the fighting, but the Rangers won the game 6-3.

Moment Number 3: February 19, 2004

Only five days before the moment above, the Rangers and Islanders met up at MSG for a game to remember.

Late in the third period, a fight between Matthew Barnaby and Aaron Asham began; Asham pounded Barnaby, while Rangers forward Chris Simon dominated Dave Scat chard; Mark Messier tangoed with Jason Blake in the corner and Dale Purinton took on Eric Cairns—this time, it was an even fight between the two.

Goalies Rick DiPietro and Mike Dunham wanted at each other, but the refs would not allow the two of them to fight.

The fighting was an even draw, but the winner of the game was the New York Rangers by a score of 6-2.

Moment Number 2: September 24, 2007

A preseason match up on Long Island turned into a boxing match very quickly. There were over 100 penalty minutes in the game and large amount of them came in a second period line brawl.

The memorable moment of this line brawl was the goalie fight. Rick DiPietro entered a fight going on right in front of his crease and in seeing this, Rangers goaltender Al Montoya skated across the ice for a fight with DiPietro.

At the beginning of the fight, it looked like Montoya had the edge, but things changed quickly as DiPietro threw Montoya to the ice and pummeled him while he was down.

It was a short fight, but a fun one to watch.

The game was won 5-4 by the Islanders in overtime.

Moment Number 1: April 4, 1998

In a late season game between the Rangers and Islanders, a huge line brawl would form mid-way through the third period.

With the Rangers winning the game 8-3, the Islanders got frustrated and a fight began.

The most memorable part of this fight was once again the goalie fight. The Rangers were dominating in the fight already, when Islanders goalie Tommy Salo decided to intervene in a fight already going on.

The Rangers goaltender Dan Cloutier took off after Tommy Salo, and gave him the beating of a lifetime. Cloutier threw Salo to the ice, and repeatedly punched him in the back of the head, forehead, and back until he felt it was necessary to stop.

After the fight, Cloutier went on to challenge the Islanders bench, but no other fight would occur. The Rangers won the fight and the game.

Thanks for the read, hope you enjoyed. Feel free to leave a comment.

Note: I will once again be Live Blogging today’s game between the Rangers and Islanders. For those interested in attending the blog it will begin at approximately 12:30PM, and go on throughout the game. Hope you join!

 If you have any questions feel free to email me at [e-mail]