NEW YORK -- There is never any shortage of drama when the New York Islanders and New York Rangers meet. But the Islanders and Rangers each have far more on their minds than local bragging rights as as they prepare for the latest incarnation of one of hockeys best rivalries.The Islanders will host the Rangers for the first time this season on Tuesday, when the teams are scheduled to meet at Barclays Center. The Rangers beat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-2 on Saturday while the Islanders fell to the Detroit Red Wings 4-3 in overtime on Sunday.Theyre always a lot of fun, Islanders center and captain John Tavares said of the games against the Rangers. Never any love lost in these games, so easy to get up for.While the Rangers (17-8-1) entered Monday atop the Metropolitan Division and just two points behind the Montreal Canadiens for the top overall seed in the Eastern Conference, coach Alain Vigneault expressed concern with his clubs recent inconsistent ways after the Rangers scored three third-period goals to edge the Hurricanes.Were like all the teams, Vigneault told reporters. We need our goaltender to be one of our best players and we need our other best players, whether they are Ds or forwards, to play at the level theyre supposed to.The Rangers have alternated wins with losses in each of their last seven games and are 4-4-1 in their last nine. Despite being in first place, they are just six points ahead of the Boston Bruins and Washington Capitals, who are tied for the final wild-card spot in the East.Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist discussed the playoff race Saturday when he said he believed it is going to be a tight one until the end and theres going to be a lot of teams involved. Its going to come down to will -- How badly do you want to win every night? -- because theres so many teams that feel they should be in the race.One of those teams is the Islanders (9-10-5), who had high expectations this season after reaching the second round of the playoffs last spring for the first time since 1993. But they entered Monday tied for last in the Eastern Conference with the Buffalo Sabres.Havent gotten off to a great start this season and we need the two points, Tavares said.The Islanders crawled on to the periphery of the race by winning three straight games before Sundays loss. They are six points behind the Bruins and Capitals -- an imposing gap, but one that is three points smaller than it was just last Monday.I think weve been on the right track the last five or six games, Islanders center Anders Lee said.The Rangers will be without Michael Grabner, who leads the team with 13 goals. Grabner is attending his grandmothers funeral and is expected to return to the team Thursday, when the Rangers visit the Winnipeg Jets. Oscar Robertson Bucks Jersey . First off, the fans ripped the Cubbies introduction of a fuzzy new kid-friendly mascot named "Clark". Jason Smith Jersey . The 31-year-old Spain midfielder hasnt played since Madrid lost in the Copa del Rey final to Atletico Madrid in May due to back and foot injuries. https://www.bucksrookiesshop.com/D-J-Wilson-City-Edition-Jersey/ . The Clippers were angry about blowing a big lead; the Kings didnt like being in that kind of hole and nearly digging themselves out only to lose. Eric Bledsoe Jersey . 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SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Twelfth-ranked Michigan State didnt panic when No. 18 Notre Dame scored three straight touchdowns to cut a 29-point lead to 36-28 with just over six minutes left.The Irish didnt get any closer after Kizer was sacked for a 5-yard loss by Raequan Williams on third-and-2 and Notre Dame punted with 3:37 left in the game and the Spartans (2-0) ran out the clock.I thought our guys played very confidently, Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio said. Im not sure at the end if their coach was confident, totally. But we found a way and our guys kept playing.Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly said the Irish would have had a chance if not for missed tackles, a problem thats plagued them in both losses this season.We had great situation there late to make a couple tackles, and we just simply didnt make it, he said.Tyler OConnor, a fifth-year senior making his third career start, was 19 of 26 passing for 241 yards, two touchdowns and one interception on a deflected pass. He said beating the Irish, the team he grew up cheering for was a dream come true.I didnt even dream about it, it was so surreal, to come in here and play and start in a game, and then take a knee in Notre Dame Stadium, and throw up your hands and realize youve won. Its a tremendous feeling, he said.Gerald Holmes ran for 100 yards and two touchdowns, including a 73-yard score, saying he was inspired by the death of his grandmother.I was in the middle of meetings and I broke out in tears and ran out. But I knew I had a game today and I got the motivation from her to come out here and ball, he said.He credited the offensive line for his big run.They probably blocked the best they ever have since Ive been here, he said.Dantonio said he couldnt recall the last time the Spartans dominated as they had late in the second quarter and early in the third.It got tougher and tougher in the fourth quarter running the football. ... They kept playing and fought their way back into the football game right there at the end.Kelly said the mmistakes were too much.dddddddddddde got too far behind. When you get into that kind of hole its hard to dig out of, he said.POLL IMPLICATIONSMICHIGAN STATE: The Spartans record streak of being ranked will stretch to 45 straight weeks, dating back to Oct. 27, 2013 with the win over the Irish and they are likely to move up in the AP poll.NOTRE DAME: With two losses in the first three games for the first time since 2011, the Irish could fall out of the poll for the first time since the end of the 2014 season.THE TAKEAWAYMICHIGAN STATE: Michigan States offense showed there was no need for concern after an unimpressive opening-game victory over FCS Furman, beating Notre Dame to end a three-game losing streak to the Irish. Good pressure by Michigan States front seven and good coverage by the secondary kept Kizer scrambling at times and the Irish couldnt get their running game going.NOTRE DAME: Mistakes hurt the Irish from the start, with an opening kickoff return for a touchdown by C.J. Sanders being called back on a holding penalty by Jalen Elliott. A bouncing punt hit Notre Dames Miles Boykins and was recovered by Michigan State long snapper Collin Caflisch at the Notre Dame 38 early, and Sanders fumbled at the end of 19-yard catch that Michigan State linebacker Jon Reschke recovered. Fans booed Notre Dame with 5 minutes left in the third quarter following a pair of runs for no gain.UP NEXTMICHIGAN STATE: The Spartans begin Big Ten play hosting Wisconsin, which they havent faced since a 16-13 overtime victory in 2012 to end the Badgers 21-game home winning streak.NOTRE DAME: The Irish begin a stretch of three straight games against Atlantic Coast Conference teams, which Notre Dame is a member in for most sports aside from football, when it plays Duke. Notre Dame is 3-1 all-time against the Blue Devils.---Online: AP College Football: http://collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '