Both the Islanders and Rangers hadn’t tasted victory in over a week, but the Islanders proved to be hungrier of the two.

The Rangers allowed themselves to get caught up in a quintessential Islanders game, where every play features a battle along the boards, every player has to grind and the score never exceeds more than three total goals. Naturally, it played into the Isles’ favor, and the Rangers lost, 3-0, for their fourth straight defeat Wednesday night at UBS Arena.

It marked the first time the Blueshirts dropped four in a row since they lost five straight at the end of the truncated 2020-21 season. It was also the first time they had been shut out this season.

The Rangers’ offense just hasn’t had the same rhythm to it that it started the season with. Not only do they not have the puck in the offensive zone as much as they need to, but they look discombobulated at times, especially when compared to how diligent it was through the first few games of the season.

Part of it could stem from the recent lack of success on the power play, which operates as the heartbeat of their offense. The Rangers haven’t even been able to gain much momentum from simply having the man-advantage, either.

After going 0-for-3 on the power play Wednesday, the Rangers are now 1-for-15 in their last four games.

The Islanders, on the other hand, deserve plenty of the credit for stifling the Rangers’ top talent. They have been perfect on the penalty kill this season, going 25-for-25. In showing just how little space they’re willing to give when they’re on their game, the Isles contested every shot and clogged every lane that the Rangers’ usually dominant first power-play unit often exploits.

After a scoreless first period, the Islanders broke through 8:44 into the middle frame. Kyle Palmieri regained possession in the high slot before quickly turning around and whipping the puck past Rangers goalie Jaroslav Halak for his first goal of the season and his first of two on the night. He later scored in the third period to make it a 3-0 game.

The Rangers didn’t have much of a response to the lopsided pace of the second period. The shots may have been an even 12-12, but the Islanders put up five high-danger chances to the Rangers’ three.

Just over 5 ¹/₂ minutes into the final period, Josh Bailey redirected a crisp feed from Adam Pelech to double the Islanders’ lead. For anyone who has watched the Islanders wear their opponents down, two goals is often all they need.

Prior to the game, the Rangers recalled Julien Gauthier from AHL Hartford to fill in for Vitali Kravtsov, who suffered his second upper-body injury of the season in Tuesday’s game with the Avalanche. Gauthier slotted into the right-wing spot on the third line next to Barclay Goodrow and Jimmy Vesey.

It was a spirited first period between two clubs looking to snap losing streaks. The Rangers entered hoping to put an end to a 0-1-2 slide, while the Islanders were looking to avoid a fourth straight loss.

There was plenty of action through the opening 20 minutes, but no score.

One of the Rangers’ best chances came toward the end of the first, when Kaapo Kakko danced through several Islanders before closing in on the net. Isles goaltender Ilya Sorokin, however, denied the Finnish winger.