Lafreniere nabs hat trick, Bjorkstrand scores twice in Rangers’ 5-2 win over Islanders

Alexis Lafreniere scored a hat trick and Oliver Bjorkstrand added two goals as the New York Rangers defeated the New York Islanders 5-2 at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night. The victory marked the Rangers' fourth consecutive win, improving their record to 4-1-0. Igor Shesterkin stopped 17 of 19 shots to earn the victory in goal for the Rangers.

The game marked Semyon Varlamov's return to net for the Islanders after 676 days following double partial knee replacement surgery, stopping 19 shots. The Islanders rallied from a 2-0 deficit with goals from Bo Horvat and Cal Ritchie before Bjorkstrand scored the game-winner, followed by two Lafreniere empty-net goals.