New York Rangers vs. Edmonton Oilers

Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

The Rangers looked to bounce back after last nights disappointing 4-1 loss to the Calgary Flames. Tonight’s task was to take on a surprising Edmonton Oilers team, who has 4 wins so far this preseason. The Rangers were hoping that they weren’t going to give the Oilers their 5 victory.

The first period started with the Rangers using their legs and skating. The team looked a lot more jumpier, looked a lot fresher, and awake. Something that they didn’t look in their game against Calgary the night before. Chris Kreider would end up taking a penalty early in the first period, and we would get a look at the penalty kill, which looked strong, as they held the Oilers without a shot during their powerplay. A turnover in the Edmonton zone, led to Marc Staal’s second goal in many games, after Zuccarello passed it out to the point, where Staal wristed the shot past Jason Labarbera, giving the Rangers a 1-0 lead.

Kreider visited the penalty box yet again, and that’s where things turned to the Oilers favor. Taylor Hall would tip a Justin Schultz shot as the penalty time expired, tying the game at one. The puck bounced out rather quickly, meaning that the new nets need some more rubber shot at it to really get it broken in. This would turn the shift in power, as the Rangers would stay trapped in their zone, and had trouble keeping it out, had trouble generating anything in the Edmonton zone. David Perron would add a goal late in the period giving the Oilers a 2-1 lead at the end of the first.

The Rangers would jump back in the penalty box early as the Rangers would get a faceoff infraction penalty, which was served by Aaron Asham. And quickly the Oilers would add another goal, as David Perron would get his second of the game with another nifty deflection. The Rangers would quickly answer as J.T. Miller playing his first preseason game would go hard to the net, and put one past Labarbera giving the Oilers a one goal lead.

The Oilers would allow the Rangers to test their new look powerplay, but the Rangers, while getting good chances, could not get one past Labarbera. The Rangers were featuring Benoit Pouliot in front of the Oilers net trying to make it hard for Labarbera to see the net. After Ben Eager’s penalty expired, a smart Ryan Smyth would pass the puck down his way, which would lead to Eager scoring short handed, giving the Oilers a two goal lead once again. The Rangers and Oilers would trade chances, but the score would still be 4-2 in favor of the Oilers at the end of two.

The third period started, and it was one of the sloppiest periods for both teams during this game, as both teams would exchange icings, as well as exchange sloppy plays in their own end. The Rangers though could not captialize on all the shots they were pouring on Labarbera, as he would prove to be the difference in the game for the Oilers. That and the fact that the Oilers scored a good amount. Jordan Eberle would add a goal making it 5-2, before Dan Girardi would score on the powerplay (another powerplay goal!) to make the game 5-3.

The final horn sounded, and that would be it, as the Rangers fell to 1-3 in the preseason. It’ll be a homecoming for Alain Vigneault as the Rangers go to Vancouver to visit former coach John Tortorella and the Canucks. The game will be shown on MSG with a 10PM start.

Goal Summary

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