Rangers vs. Oilers: Oilers Hand Rangers Fourth Loss of the Season

After the New York Rangers collected their first win of the season on Thursday against the San Jose Sharks, they met up with the Edmonton Oilers for a Saturday afternoon matinee. The Rangers were defeated 2-1 in regulation by the Oilers, but they played well enough to win. A late blown call in the third period gave the Oilers their opportunity and they took full advantage of it. Here is today’s goal breakdown.

1-0 Rangers
Mika Zibanejad (1) - Assists: Marc Staal (1) & Brendan Smith (1)

For most of the the opening period, the Rangers were all over Edmonton in the offensive zone, but just couldn’t find a way to solve Cam Talbot. Finally, after numerous chances, Mika Zibanejad tapped home a cross-ice feed from Marc Staal and gave the Rangers their first lead of the afternoon. Staal’s intended shot-pass wound up taking a slight deflection off of a skate in front, and while fortunate, it still counts the same in the end.

1-1 Tie
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (1) - Assists: Darnell Nurse (2), Connor McDavid (3)

Not even two minutes after the Rangers opened the scoring, the Oilers found a way to answer right back with a goal from Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. The goal came as a result of a deflected puck in front of Henrik Lundqvist, and Adam McQuaid was caught puck watching at the top of the crease. Nugent-Hopkins immediately pounced on the loose puck and evened up the game at one apiece.

2-1 Oilers
Connor McDavid (2) - Assists: Leon Draisaitl (2), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (1)

The Rangers appeared destined to find the go-ahead goal late in the third period, but in a span of 15 seconds, the officials found a way to intervene and change the game. Kevin Hayes was absolutely mauled behind the net by Jason Garrison, but it went uncalled. A couple seconds later, Vladislav Namestnikov tried to jump around Kailer Yamamoto and the officials decided that was the time to call a penalty.

Of course, as it usually goes with terrible calls, the Oilers caught a lucky bounce off to the side of Henrik Lundqvist, and Connor McDavid notched his second goal of the season. The puck appeared to take a strange bounce off of Lundqvist’s pad and deflected in behind him.

The Rangers were unable to find a way to tie up the game late in the third period, and were handed their fourth loss of the season. While the Rangers could easily be 3-1 if things broke a little differently, there are a lot of positives to build on moving forward. The Rangers will be back in action this coming Tuesday as they faceoff against the Colorado Avalanche on home ice.