Rangers 4, Islanders 1: Derick Brassard scored to snap a tie with 7:46 remaining in the third period and Henrik Lundqvist turned aside 38 shots as the host Rangers defeated the Islanders for the second time in three nights.

Brian Boyle and Brad Richards also tallied and defenseman Marc Staal notched a pair of assists for the Rangers, who won the season series (3-2-0) and improved to 14-5-1 in their last 20 games. Defenseman Ryan McDonagh added an empty-net goal for his career-high eighth tally of the season.

Kyle Okposo scored his team-leading 24th goal and Evgeni Nabokov finished with 33 saves for the Islanders, who fell to 0-4-1 in their last five games since skating to a 5-3 triumph over the Rangers on Jan. 21. They also dropped a 2-1 decision to the Rangers at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday.

With the score tied at 1-1, Staal wired a sharp pass from deep in the left circle to the right doorstep for an easy tap-in by Brassard. Richards followed 2:45 later as he accepted captain Ryan Callahan's lead pass before wristing a shot from the left circle past Nabokov.

The Rangers opened the scoring 3:29 into the first period as Boyle extended his stick and deftly redirected Staal's blast from the point his fourth goal - and first since Jan. 6. The Islanders answered with 5:32 remaining in the second as Okposo cleaned up a rebound after Lundqvist failed to hold onto the puck following defenseman Calvin de Haan's shot from along the right-wing boards.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Lundqvist recorded his 20th victory, marking the ninth consecutive season that he has reached that plateau. ... The Islanders failed to convert on all three of their power-play opportunities and fell to 0-for-20 in the last five games. ... Prior to the game, the Rangers paid tribute to broadcaster Sam Rosen for his 30 years as the voice of the team. Longtime broadcast partner John Davidson joined former Rangers G Mike Richter among others to honor Rosen. ... New York Mets RHP Matt Harvey, Jets DE Muhammad Wilkerson and Knicks G Tim Hardaway Jr. were in attendance at Madison Square Garden.