Islanders roll past Rangers 5-2 in Palat’s first game

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New York Rangers goaltender Spencer Martin (41) skates away as the New York Islanders celebrate a goal by Ondrej Palat during the first period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Rangers goaltender Spencer Martin (41)protects the net from New York Islanders' Emil Heineman (51) and Ondrej Palat (81) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) — New York Rangers goaltender Spencer Martin (41) skates away as the New York Islanders celebrate a goal by Ondrej Palat during the first period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Audio By Carbonatix

8:51 PM on Wednesday, January 28

By SCOTT CHARLES

NEW YORK (AP) — Ondrej Palat scored the opening goal and added an assist in his debut with the New York Islanders, who defeated their cross-town rival New York Rangers 5-2 on Wednesday night.

Simon Holmstrom had a goal and two assists, David Rittich made 14 saves, and the Islanders won their second straight game. Mathew Barzal, Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Emil Heineman also scored.

Mika Zibanejad and Taylor Raddysh scored for the Rangers. Spencer Martin stopped 31 shots, but the Rangers lost for the fourth time in their last five games and are 2-8-1 since they won the Winter Classic in Florida on Jan. 2. Star forward Artemi Panarin was held out of the lineup for roster management purposes and will not play again for the Rangers before the Olympic break.

Holmstrom made a slick pass from the half wall to set up Palat in the slot for a power-play goal with 5:01 remaining in the first period.

Tony DeAngelo found Holmstrom for a tap-in goal 1:11 later, giving the Islanders a 2-0 lead.

Zibanejad buried a cross-ice feed from J.T. Miller late in the first period to pull the Rangers within one.

Barzal and Pageau scored 47 seconds apart midway through the second period to extend the Islanders’ lead to 4-1.

The Islanders acquired Palat from the New Jersey Devils, along with a third-round pick in 2026 and a sixth-round pick in 2027, in exchange for forward Maxim Tsyplakov.

Up next

The Rangers host the Islanders on Thursday for the second half of a home-and-home.

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