Rangers 2, Islanders 1: Rick Nash scored his team-leading 39th goal early in the third period as the Rangers won in their final regular-season visit to Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

Rookie Kevin Hayes also tallied for the Rangers, who improved to 14-2-3 in their last 19 games overall and moved within one point of the first-place Islanders in the Metropolitan Division. Mats Zuccarello set up Hayes' 13th goal for his fifth assist in four outings and Cam Talbot finished with 29 saves.

Rookie Anders Lee scored midway into the first period for the Islanders, who have played four more games than the Rangers. Jaroslav Halak turned aside 20 shots in defeat.

After Talbot closed his pads on a breakaway bid by Josh Bailey late in the second, Nash gave the Rangers a 2-1 lead at 2:50 of the third as his attempted pass from just inside the blue line caromed off the skate of Islanders forward Ryan Strome and into the net. Nash nearly provided insurance when his shot from the right doorstep was denied by diving defenseman Calvin de Haan, but Talbot held the fort to preserve the Rangers' 20th road win.

Lee was knocked down near the net but quickly got to his feet and tucked the puck past Talbot to open the scoring 9:35 into the first period. Hayes' brilliant individual effort helped forge a tie 11:35 into the second, as he used his strength to fend off defenseman Thomas Hickey before sweeping the puck past Halak.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Islanders RW Kyle Okposo registered three shots in his return from a 22-game absence due to a detached retina that required emergency surgery. ... Rangers captain Ryan McDonagh played in his 300th career contest. ... Islanders D Nick Leddy saw his consecutive games played streak end at 320 after sitting out due to a leg injury.