<P> Ice hockey has a storied history and large following in the New York metropolitan area, which is unique in being the only metropolitan area and media market in the United States and Canada to feature three major league professional teams participating in the same sport . New York City is currently home to the New York Rangers, playing in Madison Square Garden in Manhattan, and the New York Islanders, playing in Barclays Center in Brooklyn . The New Jersey Devils play in Prudential Center in nearby Newark, New Jersey . </P> <P> The Rangers, established in 1926, are one of the Original Six--a term given to the six NHL teams in existence before the league doubled its size in 1967 . The primary fan base for the Rangers is in the City's five boroughs, Westchester County, much of Upstate New York, and parts of Connecticut, however they maintain a sizable following within parts of the market claimed by their two local rivals . </P> <P> The Islanders, established in 1972, play their home games in the Barclays Center in Brooklyn beginning with the 2015--16 NHL season . These two teams play in the Metropolitan Division, providing fans with an intense rivalry . The Islanders' primary fan base is in Nassau and Suffolk Counties on Long Island . </P> <P> Within the Metropolitan Division and greater New York metropolitan area, there is another intense rivalry between the Rangers and New Jersey Devils, largely stemming from geographic proximity, a manifestation of a long - standing rivalry between the states of New York and New Jersey, and six playoff meetings in which the Rangers have won four . Both teams have achieved famous results for their respective fan bases in these meetings, including the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals, ending in a dramatic double - overtime goal by the Rangers' Stéphane Matteau during the 7th and deciding game . The Devils took a 3 - 2 series lead into Game 6 in New Jersey and jumped out to a 2 - 0 lead in the game . However, Mark Messier's famous guarantee and hat - trick led the Rangers to victory and a seventh game . As time wound down in Game 7, the Rangers were clinging to a 1 - 0 lead when New Jersey's Valeri Zelepukin tied the game with 7.7 seconds left in regulation to silence the Garden crowd and send the game into overtime, where Matteau won it for the Rangers . Most recently, in the 2012 Eastern Conference Finals, the Rangers would be in a very similar scenario, but would ultimately fail to overcome the 3 - 2 series deficit after trailing 2 - 0 and forcing overtime in Game 6 across the Hudson River at Prudential Center in Newark on a series - winning goal only 1: 03 into overtime by Adam Henrique . The Devils' primary fan base resides throughout Northern and Central New Jersey . </P>

Why is there two new york hockey teams