New York flooding forces Islanders and Rangers to postpone Friday’s game

Friday night’s game between the New York Islanders and the New York Rangers will be postponed, the Islanders’ PR team announced.

The announcement came Friday afternoon after New York continued to experience flooding throughout the state.

The game was rescheduled to Saturday, Sept. 30 at 7 p.m. at UBS Arena.

Heavy rainfall pounded New York City and the surrounding region on Friday morning. The weather brought flash floods, shut down entire subway lines, turned major roadways into lakes and sent children to the upper floors of flooding schoolhouses, according to the New York Times.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul issued a statement declaring a state of emergency, calling the storm a “life-threatening rainfall event.”

“It is critical that all New Yorkers take all necessary precautions and avoid flooded roads,” said Hochul in the statement.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams issued a separate state of emergency.

“This is a dangerous weather condition,” said Adams. “It is not over. I don’t want those gaps in heavy rain to give the appearance that it is over –– it is not.”

The two teams already faced off in preseason action last Tuesday at Madison Square Garden, with the Rangers winning 4-2.

The Rangers finished 2022-23 with a record of 47-22-13, placing third in the Metropolitan Division. They were eliminated in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the New Jersey Devils in seven games.

The Rangers open the 2023-24 regular season on Oct. 12 when they travel to Buffalo to face the Sabres.

The Islanders finished 2022-23 with a record of 42-31-9, placing fourth in the Metropolitan Division and clinching the first Wildcard spot. They were eliminated in the playoffs against the Carolina Hurricanes in six games.

The Islanders open their regular season on Oct. 14 at home against the Sabres.