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New York Rangers: Main takeaways from Edmonton Oilers loss

By Andrew Steele-Davis

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 12: Brett Howden #21 and Chris Kreider #20 of the New York Rangers battle for the puck against James Neal #18 and Tomas Jurco #92 of the Edmonton Oilers at Madison Square Garden on October 12, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 12: Brett Howden #21 and Chris Kreider #20 of the New York Rangers battle for the puck against James Neal #18 and Tomas Jurco #92 of the Edmonton Oilers at Madison Square Garden on October 12, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 12: Chris Kreider #20 of the New York Rangers skates off the ice following a 4-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers at Madison Square Garden on October 12, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 12: Chris Kreider #20 of the New York Rangers skates off the ice following a 4-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers at Madison Square Garden on October 12, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) /

2. Secondary scoring remains a concern

This has been a disturbing trend dating back to Training Camp but it is now more evident than ever: The New York Rangers are in dire need of secondary scoring.

Kaapo Kakko’s first NHL goal on Saturday was only the second time this year (excluding defensemen), albeit going on a small sample size, that a member of the Rangers’ top line hadn’t scored, and that isn’t going to get the job done.

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Ryan Strome tallied his first point of the year with an assist on Kakko’s goal, but Chris Kreider was held without a point and the likes of Brendan Lemieux and Lias Andersson are yet to register a point this year.

Andersson had a golden opportunity to record his first goal of the year against the Oilers but couldn’t quite provide the finishing touch, while Kreider ended the night with no shots on goal.

Rangers Head Coach David Quinn was critical of his team’s reluctance to get shots on net on Saturday, something that was a recurring theme last year, and only 14 shots at even strength, including just nine in the third period when chasing the game, won’t get the job done.

It was frustrating because the Oilers were there for the taking but the Rangers were unable to get the offense going and really challenge Mike Smith.

Shifting Kaapo Kakko up to the top line and bumping Pavel Buchnevich down to the second line could spark a surge in production, but you need contributions from up and down the lineup especially when your top line hasn’t got it.

For as good as the Artemi Panarin-Mika Zibanejad-Pavel Buchnevich line is, they won’t be firing on all cylinders every single game and they need help, which they haven’t had so far this year and it cost the Blueshirts on Saturday.

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