Lafrenière's Third Career Hat Trick Powers Rangers Past Islanders 5-2

The New York Rangers' hot start hit a new high on Tuesday night as Alexis Lafrenière recorded his third career hat trick in a 5-2 win over the Islanders at Madison Square Garden, the club's fourth consecutive victory. Lafrenière scored early in the second period and then sealed the game with two empty-net goals 32 seconds apart after the Islanders pulled Semyon Varlamov late in the third. His assist on Oliver Bjorkstrand's first-period goal completed a four-point night, only the second four-point game of his career. Bjorkstrand scored twice himself, with his power-play tally in the final three minutes of the second period breaking a 2-2 tie and standing as the winner. Mika Zibanejad contributed two assists, and Igor Shesterkin stopped 17 shots for the Rangers. Bo Horvat and Calum Ritchie scored second-period goals for the Islanders, who lost despite having swept last season's four-game series between the clubs. Varlamov made 19 saves in his first appearance since November 2024, when surgeries on each of his knees ended his season. The victory moved the Rangers to 3-0-0 on home ice for the first time since the 2009-10 season, capping a statement night in the rivalry.