New York Rangers comeback effort comes up short in 4-3 loss to the Edmonton Oilers
By Conor Power
As the comeback efforts of the New York Rangers fell short on a night where they couldn't keep up with the offensive firepower of their opponents, they would not be able to overturn the three-goal deficit they were faced with. They are beaten at home 4-3 in regulation by the Edmonton Oilers, dropping their record to 22-8-1. It's not great, but the Rangers have built up such a dominant record over the rest of the division that a few games like this are fine.
It started well when K'Andre Miller led Mika Zibanejad into the Oilers zone before Mika sent it to Chris Kreider. Kreider gave it back to Zibanejad who tapped it first time over to Blake Wheeler, who gave the New York Rangers the lead halfway through the first period. It was a beautifully worked goal from the Blueshirts to give them an advantage over their Western Conference foe.
Edmonton got it back when Zach Hyman got a pass from Connor McDavid in the slot. Hyman played a give-and-go with Mattias Ekholm and then managed to go backhand, forehand and get it past Jonathan Quick to tie the game up at one early in the third period. The defense on this play was not good enough, but there was plenty of time to get the lead back and make sure that the two points were secured.
Then the Oilers scored yet again. An offensive zone draw leads to the Oilers taking the puck in the circle to the left of Quick. Evander Kane slaps it towards the net, which Quick saves. Quick tries to knock it away with the stick, only to put it onto the blade of Kane yet again. Another shot hits the glove of Quick and falls in, and the Rangers are in a bad position.
Edmonton continued to build their lead when Cody Ceci knocked away a Rangers attempted zone entry and it found Ryan McLeod entering the Rangers zone. He dropped it off in the slot for Warren Foegele to walk onto it, and the Oilers now had a multiple-goal lead and were continuing to carry the momentum in their charge against the Blueshirts.
The eventual game-winning goal came from a K'Andre Miller slip at the point, leaving Jacob Trouba alone on a 2-on-1. Foegele and Leon Draisaitl managed to work it to get a shot on goal, but Quick couldn't trap it. Miller and Trouba couldn't locate the loose puck either, and McLeod walked in to deposit the change and the Rangers were now down in a big way. It was going to take a total team effort to get back into this one.
So, the Rangers started the wheels in motion on the powerplay. Artemi Panarin took the puck in the right faceoff circle and aimed for a Kreider deflection. It didn't work, but it created a loose puck, and the Edmonton Oilers couldn't handle it. As it bounced around, Mika Zibanejad walked in to put it home and make it just a two goal game. With four minutes left, it was possible, but the Rangers needed to score again and quickly.
With the net empty, the Rangers were able to get a consolation goal as the buzzer sounded. The Oilers couldn't clear the zone, and the Rangers kept trying to get it past Stuart Skinner to give themselves a prayer. Will Cuylle was able to slap it through the wickets of Skinner, but it was a little too late, and the Rangers fell on home ice against the Edmonton Oilers. Not a great third period for the Rangers, but it happens from time to time.