NEW YORK (AP) – When Alexandar Georgiev was young, his family left Bulgaria for Russia to give him a better chance to play sports. He was happy that his parents were present Wednesday night for his first NHL game.

Georgiev stopped 29 shots, Filip Chytil scored for the fifth consecutive game and the New York Rangers defeated the Crosstown rivals Islanders 5-0.

"They have done everything they can to help me along the way, so I am very grateful to them," said Georgiev, 22. "It's a special moment that they're here to see my first white game."

Chris Kreider had a goal and an assist, and Cody McLeod, Neal Pionk and Kevin Hayes also scored to help the Rangers win their ninth win in 11 games (9-1-1). Kevin Shattenkirk and Mika Zibanejad each added two assists for the Rangers' seventh consecutive home win, now with a combined margin of 26-10.

Georgiev, 7-6-1 in 15 career games, made a number of interesting saves, including 13 saves in the third period, while winning his fourth consecutive start.

The Rangers ended a series of eight games (0-7-1) against the Islanders, who had won 12 of 13 previous games, including a 7-5 win at home Thursday night. It was the first Rangers' shutout since the 1-0 overtime win at Nassau Coliseum on April 13, 2013.

"When you lose so often against someone, you'll win one after that," said Rangers first-year coach David Quinn. "I think the odds were just in our favor, it's a very good hockey team, we were opportunistic tonight for sure."

Robin Lehner finished with 22 saves for the Islanders, who accumulated 3-0 just over eight minutes into play and lost for the fifth time in their last seven games (2-4-1). They also lost to an opponent in the Metropolitan Division for the first time after starting the season 7-0-0.

"They went out early and we ran all night," said Mathew Barzal of the Islanders. "We just have to have a better start, we had a lot of Grade A chances, their goalkeeper made big saves."

Kreider beat Lehner of the left circle with a whirlwind, with 3:41 left for his team, 12th, to finish the score.

Neither team could do anything during most of the second period, until Hayes added to the Rangers' advantage, beating Lehner in front with a setback for his fifth goal at 2:43.

Both teams finished with five shots on goal in the second period. The Islanders had seven shots and the Rangers one.

Chytil extended his series and launched the Rangers in the first minute of the game. In a 2-on-1 race with Kreider, he was riding on the right side and was trying to send a pass in front of the goal to his teammate, but the puck deflected from Islanders defender Ryan Pulock to Chytil and beat Lehner. 29 seconds in.

"When you're hot, you're hot," Hayes said of 19-year-old Chytil. He played well. … it's awesome. It's a tough league in which to score goals and he's doing it at will now. "

McLeod doubled the lead at 3:30 as he deflected Tony DeAngelo's long shot from center to the outside of the ground, with his stick over Lehner.

The Rangers also led 2-0 less than six minutes last week in Brooklyn before the Islanders were tied with two goals at the end of the opening period before winning another victory. There was no return this time.

"They had our number, no doubt," said Shattenkirk. "It's huge for us, as a trusted builder, to move forward and overcome this hump."

Pionk raised the score to 3-0 on the power play at 8:04, setting off a mid-point goal that beat a Lehner on the blocker's side for his fourth goal. He gave Pionk five points (one goal, four assists) in his last five games.

NOTES: Matt Martin of the Islanders missed his eighth consecutive game with an upper body injury. … Barzal ended a series of five points by scoring a goal and five assists. … Teams meet again twice – January 10 at Madison Square Garden and January 12 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. … D Brady Skjei was back in Rangers training after missing out on the previous two games. D Brendan Smith was a good scratch to make room. Rangers F Mats Zuccarello missed his third straight game because of an injury to the groin. … Ryan Strome of the Rangers earned a decisive pass for McLeod's goal, giving him his first point in three games since his acquisition of Edmonton last Friday. … The Rangers have scored at least one power play goal in five of the last six games.

FOLLOWING

Islanders: In New Jersey Friday in the second of three games in four days.

Rangers: In Philadelphia Friday in the second game of three games in four days, all against division opponents.

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