How to watch the first Rangers-Islanders game of the year for free
New York rivals add another chapter to their storied legacy when the Rangers host the Islanders at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night.
The teams meet for the first time in the regular season since the Rangers coasted to a 9-2 rout of the Islanders at UBS Arena last April in the heat of a playoff race — though neither team ended up clinching a postseason berth.
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The Rangers swept the season series last season, outscoring the Islanders 23-5 across four games.
The Blueshirts and Isles are two seasons removed from an epic showdown at the 2024 Stadium Series, where Rangers’ wing Artemi Panarin scored a game-winning overtime goal to propel the team to a 6-5 win at MetLife Stadium.
Rangers vs. Islanders: what to know
- When: Nov. 8, 7:00 p.m. ET
- Where: Madison Square Garden (New York, New York)
- Channel: MSG
- Streaming: DIRECTV (try it free)
Neither New York squad is where it wants to be right now, stuck near the bottom of the Metropolitan Division.
Taylor Raddysh leads the Blueshirts with five goals, while Adam Fox paces the squad with 11 points and eight assists.
For the Islanders, Bo Horvat leads the team with 15 points and nine goals.
Both New York teams are searching for a momentum shift, but nothing sparks a fire like a heated contest against a historic rival.
Rangers vs. Islanders start time:
New York Rangers vs. New York Islanders is scheduled to start at 7:00 p.m. ET today, Nov. 8.
How to watch Rangers vs. Islanders for free:
If you don’t have cable, you’ll need a live TV streaming service to stream the game for free.
DIRECTV is our top pick for watching hockey live for free — its five-day Choice plan free trial includes regional sports networks, including MSG and MSGSN, so no matter which team you root for, you’ll be able to watch their broadcast. When the trial is over, you’ll pay as low as $59.99/month and gain access to over 90 live channels.
2025 NHL Season key dates:
- Nov. 8: Hall of Fame Game (Bruins vs. Maple Leafs)
- Nov. 14, 16: NHL Global Series – Sweden (Penguins vs. Predators)
- Jan. 2: NHL Winter Classic (Panthers vs. Rangers)
- Feb. 1: Stadium Series (Lightning vs. Bruins)
- Feb. 6-24: Olympic Break
- Feb. 22: Olympic Men’s gold medal game
- March 6: Trade deadline
- April 16: Regular season ends
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