Rangers 5, Islanders 2: Lafrenière's Hat Trick, Two Into the Empty Net

October 6, 2026 - New York - The Rangers did not put a shot on net for 6:40. Then Oliver Bjorkstrand one-timed the first one over Semyon Varlamov's left shoulder, and Madison Square Garden had the 1-0 lead it wanted. Varlamov is not seeded on AthX player pages, so the name stays unlinked. The night was still his first NHL start in 676 days.

The New York Rangers beat the New York Islanders 5-2. New York (Rangers) is 4-1-0, four in a row after a 3-0 loss in Boston on opening night, 3-0-0 at home. The Islanders are 1-2-0. Shots were 24-19 Rangers. Attendance was 18,006. The NHL game summary lists those shots. The box AthX Engine scored used 19 Islanders shots on Igor Shesterkin.

Alexis Lafrenière scored three times, two into an empty net, and added an assist. Bjorkstrand scored twice, his first two with the Rangers. Mika Zibanejad and Vladislav Gavrikov each had two assists on the NHL recap and the NHL box. Shesterkin stopped 17 of 19.

2-0, then 2-2 in four minutes

Lafrenière won a puck from Matthew Schaefer along the end boards and found Bjorkstrand in the right circle at 6:40 of the first. 1-0. At 0:25 of the second, Zibanejad hit Lafrenière from his knees in his own zone. Far-side shot from the left circle. 2-0.

Bo Horvat answered on the power play at 2:56, a one-timer from the left circle off Matias Maccelli. Calum Ritchie is not seeded either. He tied it at 4:52 from Brayden Schenn. 2-2. Islanders coach Peter DeBoer told NHL.com his club had looks to take the lead and did not take them.

Bjorkstrand's second, on the power play at 17:07, was the one that stuck. Gabe Perreault is not seeded. The NHL recap had him retrieving a rebound after Varlamov stopped Will Cuylle and whipping a pass across the slot. Short-side wrist shot, left circle. 3-2.

Two empty-netters in 32 seconds

Lafrenière scored into the empty net at 18:22 from J.T. Miller and Zibanejad. He scored again at 18:54 from Adam Fox and Gavrikov. The NHL game summary marks both EV-EN. 5-2. Rangers coach Mike Sullivan told NHL.com that using Lafrenière 5-on-6 is a responsibility and a privilege.

Varlamov stopped 19 of 22 in 59:26, the NHL box. He told NHL.com it was emotional in warmup and fun to play in the building again after partial replacements in both knees. His last NHL game was Nov. 29, 2024.

The NHL recap said the Rangers have not allowed a first-period goal this season. Cole Beaudoin played 9:57 in his NHL debut after a recall from Hartford. He is not seeded. Alexander Romanov left with an undisclosed injury in the third. No update after the game.

AthX Engine on a hat-trick Garden night

AthX Engine (our projection and scoring system) scored Lafrenière at 16.30 (three goals, an assist, three shots, one block, two PIM). Bjorkstrand is 9.55. Zibanejad is 7.30. Gavrikov is 6.80. Horvat is 5.70. Ritchie is 5.20, unlinked. Shesterkin's win is 7.40. Varlamov is 4.00.

The Rangers' team line is 21.00. The Islanders floor at 0.

Fantasy points measure the box. Price is what traders will pay for a Rangers club that is 3-0 at the Garden a year after losing its first seven there, and for an Islanders group that tied it at 2-2 and still left down three. They are not the same number.

Track Lafrenière, Shesterkin, Horvat, and both clubs on the marketplace.

*Sources: AP recap (ESPN), ESPN box score, NHL.com recap, NHL.com scoreboard. AthX Engine fantasy points scored from NHL gamecenter box 2026020048. Information only; not financial advice.*