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Vanek held off score sheet in Islanders debut

New York Rangers v New York Islanders

at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on October 29, 2013 in Uniondale, New York.

Bruce Bennett

The Thomas Vanek Era with the New York Islanders began on the ice Tuesday, but did not yield results.

Vanek, who the Islanders acquired Sunday from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Matt Moulson, a first-round pick in the 2014 NHL Draft and a second-round pick in 2015, did not register a point in his Islanders debut, while playing on a line with John Tavares and Kyle Okposo.

The Islanders gave up a pair of third period goals and lost to their rivals, the New York Rangers, by a final of 3-2.

“The atmosphere was great - I haven’t been in a game like that for a long time,” Vanek told News Day Long Island. “Our line was OK. We’re still trying to feel our way a little bit.

“I need to see some video to see John’s tendencies, Kyle’s too ... For the first game, it was a tremendous effort.”

On the other side, Rangers forward Carl Hagelin made his season debut after missing the first 10 games following off-season shoulder surgery. He set up Benoit Pouliot’s winning goal late in the third period.

And, as per NHL.com, Rangers forward Dominic Moore suffered an upper-body injury and did not return.

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