First Period:
Second Period:
- Trent Frederic (1) Assists: Kasperi Kapanen (2)
Third Period:
- Adam Henrique (1) (Empty Net) Assists: Connor McDavid (4), Andrew Mangiapane (1)
Stats:
Adam Rotter:
- Another really strong performance from the Rangers but they still haven’t scored at MSG. They had plenty of chances, again, as the game developed but the Oilers blocked some big opportunities, some missed or were misplayed and Stuart Skinner was great for the Oilers. They defended well, Connor McDavid was mostly quiet and after an even first period, the Rangers dominated the second and third. But they still couldn’t get even one goal.
- It’s only five games and so far the Rangers are nearly the polar opposite of last season and defending well, being physical and making smart plays, but they should be able to do that and still score goals. They are getting chances so it may just be a matter of time before they start filling the net, but at the moment it’s extremely frustrating.
- I do wonder how deep this team really is offensively, especially with Vincent Trocheck out. Nearly all the role players, especially the fourth line, are getting chances but none of those guys can really be considered offensive contributors. It’s great when they do, but it feels very much like the Rangers have a top-six and bottom-six as opposed to the top-nine they have had the last few years and then a fourth line. A partial way around that would be keeping Mika Zibanejad at center and putting Vincent Trocheck on the third line when he gets back. Noah Laba would lose his spot, which he doesn’t deserve, but this is also a lot of potential surgery for a problem that may fix itself in the coming days.
- But the fourth line was excellent and may actually become the third line if they keep playing like this. Sam Carrick has been great and Adam Edstrom has had numerous chances to score.
- At the moment it seems as if the Rangers have been wise not to extend Artemi Panarin yet. He looks to be fighting it, either from still catching up from his training camp injury or something else. He’s forcing too many passes, forcing too many plays and is trying to do too much. He looks like he has often in the playoffs. I still think that, unless he wants to leave, that they need to keep him on a short-term deal because they have no other way to replace his expected production. Again, another issue that may sort itself out if Panarin puts up 10 points in the next week and these five games are just a blip.
- Outside of not being able to score, this was another really great performance by the Rangers and against the team that won the Western Conference the last two years. They didn’t take a penalty, they really limited the Oilers, Igor Shesterkin was good when he needed to be and the PP had it’s moments. If they can keep how they are playing the last two games and find a way to score a few goals then they should have a successful season. But they still need to score goals to win games.
- Luckily the Rangers now head on the road for two games against Toronto on Thursday and Montreal on Saturday. The next opportunity to score at MSG comes on Monday against Minnesota.