Recap: Quick Shutout Extends Rangers Win Streak to Three

After another three goal second period, the Rangers are officially hot as they pick up their third win in a row, beating the Edmonton Oilers 3-0. Multi-point nights from several players, Jonathan Quick with an incredible showing as well as another cohesive effort to defend the lead, it’s hard not to be extremely satisfied with what the Rangers are showing us up to this point.

1st Period:

It was a pretty mild mannered start to the night. After five minutes of feeling each other out, the team’s exchanged pretty good chances which tested both goaltenders early. On the Rangers end of things, Ryan Lindgren walked into the slot and pulled off a nice move to bring the puck in close but Stuart Skinner was able to shut him down. The Oilers had a chance going back the other way where Jonathan Quick came up with a big save to keep it scoreless.

The bulk of the chances for both teams came in the final five minutes of the period which kicked off with a backhand opportunity for Leon Draisaitl as Brett Kulak fed him with a quick pass to the slot from behind the Rangers net. Not long after that chance, Edmonton had an odd man rush which resulted in Ryan Nugent-Hopkins drawing the first penalty of the evening with Blake Wheeler getting a stick caught up in the Oilers forward.

It wouldn’t be a full man advantage as Evander Kane was sent off for slashing the stick out of the hands of K’Andre Miller. The team’s skated four aside for about a minute before the Rangers got some power play time of their own. Pretty uneventful aside from a lone Aretmiy Panarin rush where he pulled off his signature head-fake-shot move that wouldn’t make it through cleanly.

The Rangers best chance of the period came in the final minute where Alexis Lafrenière and Filip Chytil found themselves on a 2-on-1. Lafrenière gave a perfect pass to Chytil but the shot wouldn’t be enough as Stuart Skinner came up with a terrific save, robbing him of his first goal of the season. As time expired, we would have our first scoreless period for the Rangers this season. Shots were 10-5 in the Blueshirts favor to end the first twenty of the night.

2nd Period:

It was all New York through the first couple shifts of the second period and it would continue as Warren Foegele took a high-sticking penalty, giving the Rangers their second power play of the night. This time around, the Rangers were able to convert after sustaining solid pressure in the offensive zone. Panarin took the puck in from the point and sent it back up to Vincent Trocheck, who found Adam Fox, almost in Zibanejad’s sweet spot to send it to the back of the net, breaking the goose egg on the Rangers side of the scoreboard.

Lafrenière immediately had a great chance after beating Oilers defender Phillip Broberg with a move so slick it sent Broberg falling to the ice. However, Skinner came up with a flashy glove save. Edmonton followed with a surge of their own soon after but again, Jonathan Quick rose to the challenge, coming up with key saves for the Rangers. For what it’s worth, Quick has been great through his first couple of appearances to start the season which is certainly refreshing to see after the rocky preseason he had.

With eight minutes to go in the second, Jimmy Vesey sent Braden Schneider a perfect pass to enter the zone who beat Stuart Skinner with an absolute snipe of a shot top shelf to make it a 2-0 game. I’ll be honest, I was expecting a coaches challenge for offsides as it was definitely a close one, but Barclay Goodrow going for a line change at the right time may have saved the day on that play.

The period ended just as it started with the Rangers controlling the play. Two posts and a breakaway from Adam Fox had the Rangers buzzing. Had it not been for the goaltending of Stuart Skinner, this game easily could have been 6-0 up to this point. Blake Wheeler was among one of the shots that rang off the post, just inches away from his first as a Ranger in what was easily his most noticeable showing so far this season.

With just under two minutes to go, Braden Schneider gave Panarin a crisp breakout pass as Alexis Lafrenière got set up comfortably at the right face-off circle. He was left all alone and Panarin found him as he sent a one-timer to the back of the net for his third goal in three straight games. What a story this line has been for the Rangers throughout the start of this season and you have to be elated for Lafrenière who undoubtedly has something to prove this year.

The Rangers took a 3-0 lead to the second intermission as a frustrated fan base expressed their displeasure with the Oilers continuing to struggle. Shots were now 27-18 in favor of New York who completely took control of things with three unanswered goals, the first of which coming on the power play.

3rd Period:

The third period of this one felt very similar to the Rangers third period in Calgary where they sort of sat back and played more of a conservative type of game. With a three goal lead, it made sense, however the Oilers were still pushing and Quick was continuing to come up big.

Just as the midway point of the period approached, Mattias Ekholm cross-checked K’Andre Miller who didn’t have the puck and was sent off for interference. The Rangers had plenty of great looks on their third and final power play attempt of the night but wouldn’t capitalize.

The Rangers made it a 4-0 game for a brief moment in time but stop me if you’ve heard this before, upon further review, the goal was waved off. Will Cuylle set up Blake Wheeler with a nice pass but as Wheeler sent it back over to Cuylle, he redirected the puck with his skate which was deemed a kicking motion after the officials reviewed the play.

Blake Wheeler took another trip to the penalty box as we got down to the final two minutes of the game yet the Rangers did a good job of killing off the disadvantage. The boo’s got louder as time ran out and the Rangers recorded another win on the road. Jonathan Quick picked up his first career shutout as a New York Ranger, his 59th of his career which is the most by any U.S. born goaltender. You have to think that’s a dream come true moment for the Hamden, CT native who grew up a Rangers fan.

The Rangers are now officially hot as they win their third in a row to remain perfect on their first big road trip of the season. A two point night from Braden Schneider, Lafrenière on a three game goal streak with four total on the season, a 29 save shutout from Quick and an all around impressive start as the Rangers advance to 5-2-0 on the season. They’ll head to Vancouver for one more late night puck drop against the Canucks on Saturday night as they look to keep the wins coming.