The dreaded "Post Ranger letdown"

Something that the Isles certainly can't afford tonight.....

The Isles, over the past several seasons have had a terrible time in the game following a game against the Rangers (like tonight).
Since the beginning of the 1999-2000 season, the Isles are 11-22-7 in the next game following a game with the Rangers.

Before beating Boston in January, in fact, the Isles hadn't won a game this century against anyone other than the Rangers if they had beaten the Rangers in the previous game.

This year, they are 2-4-0 in these games (with one of the losses coming in the back-end of a home-and home).

In their history, they are 81-91-34 in games following a game against the Rangers. The "letdown" is less when the Isles don't beat the Rangers -- they are 30-40-21 in games following a win over the Rangers and 51-51-13 in games following a non-win.

Forever1940 is the nom de plume of FSN statistician Eric Hornick.Eric, who has worked the Stanley Cup Finals four times, celebrated his 25th anniversary as the statistician on Islander home telecasts on January 21, 2007. Often referred to on-air as an actuary, he is one of 2,921 Fellows of the Casualty Actuarial Society and is the President-Elect of the Casualty Actuaries of Greater NY.You can find him in the "Best Seat in the House", about six feet to Howie and Billy's left, at most Islander home games.For more on the actuarial profession, visit www.beanactuary.org