"John Tavares, the Islanders' star rookie, is probably going to have a long, successful career, and will play at Madison Square Garden many times. The Islanders made his first visit to the Garden a winning one Wednesday night, but the game was more likely to be remembered as one of the worst played there in some time.

The Islanders' Dwayne Roloson allowed only a third-period goal to Enver Lisin.

The Islanders beat the Rangers, 2-1, in a contest of remarkably low quality, a parade of missed shots and flubbed chances all around. Fans of both teams can only hope it won't be repeated when the teams meet again Thursday night in Uniondale.

Both clubs are struggling, but the Rangers were especially bad in the first period, and their general manager, Glen Sather, took the brunt of the fans' frustration. The Rangers were outshot, 10-3, sparking chants of "Fire Sather!" from the irritated Garden crowd.

While Islanders Coach Scott Gordon praised his team for being "ready from the pregame skate" and having "genuine enthusiasm," Rangers Coach John Tortorella fumed.

"I have no explanation for how we started; I wish I could give you one," Tortorella said in one of the few printable passages from a brief, profanity-laced news conference. "It was simply unacceptable how we started the game.""