Recap: Rangers Fall Apart in Third, Lose 4-3

The Rangers kicked off their 4th back-to-back of the season, all of which coming in the last month as they host Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers. Anytime the league’s top player pays a trip to New York it’s going to be a noteworthy night but this one would be particularly special for Oilers Coach Kris Knoblauch. Knoblauch, who spent the last four years as Head Coach of the Hartford Wolf Pack and even spent a couple games filling in as the Rangers Head Coach during COVID, makes his first return to Broadway after being hired as Jay Woodcroft’s replacement a little over a month ago. No changes to the Rangers lineup aside from Jonathan Quick getting the start in net.

1st Period:

Both teams got off to quite the slow start as there were plenty of icings and other whistles within the first couple minutes of the opening period. Despite neither team having much of an edge out the gate, the Oilers were quick to register five shots on goal. Took the Rangers three minutes to find their first shot as Ryan Lindgren let a slap shot go off an offensive zone face-off. The Rangers first quality chance of the night came from a great shift from their top line as Blake Wheeler made a couple of great plays to generate some offense. That shift really got some momentum going both ways as the Rangers spent some time in Edmonton’s end until a turnover sparked an odd man rush involving McDavid and Connor Brown.

Just over the midway point of the first, Mika Zibanejad entered the Oilers zone with great speed but the true highlight on the play would be his one touch little redirect pass to Blake Wheeler who was all alone in front of the net to put the shot away, making it a 1-0 game in favor of the Blueshirts.

Blake Wheeler now has three goals and three assists in his last six games as he really seems to be clicking on that top line with Zibanejad and Chris Kreider.

With twenty seconds left in the first, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins sent the puck over the glass above the penalty boxes to give the Rangers their first power play of the night. Not enough time to get anything generated but the Oilers had a Grade-A chance as Leon Draisaitl picked up speed on a breakaway and sent a shot wide of Jonathan Quick which sent the teams to the first intermission.

At the end of twenty, the Rangers had the 1-0 lead in what was an overall fairly even period. The Rangers had the slight edge in shots on goal 8-7 with a 53% success rate on face-offs. Once the teams got past that slow start, the game really opened up as both teams saw opportunities. The Rangers would have the advantage to start the second as they still had over a minute and a half left on the power play.

2nd Period:

The Rangers got right to work getting situated on the power play as Mika Zibanejad let a one timer go off the helmet of Stuart Skinner. The puck ended up right on the stick of Artemiy Panarin to which he put in the wide open net however the goal was immediately waved off because of Skinner being knelt over with his helmet off. The officials did congregate after the play to review the situation but the call on the ice stood and the goal remained disallowed.

Skinner remained in the game and came up with a big save on another great chance on the Rangers power play which kept them off the board through the remainder of the man advantage. As play continued, Barclay Goodrow went down awkwardly on a collision with Mattias Ekholm that left him skating slowly back to the Rangers bench.

New York headed back to the power play as Evan Bouchard slashed the stick right out of the hands of Vincent Trocheck on an offensive zone rush. The Rangers had a tougher time maintaining pressure on their second power play attempt as Jonathan Quick was forced to come up with a big save on the Oilers penalty killers.

Just over the midway point of the night, Ryan Lindgren took the Rangers first penalty as he got the hands up high on a hit against a hunched over Ryan Mcleod. The Oilers power play got to work and again, Jonathan Quick came up with a big save on Draisaitl. As the Rangers went the other way with it, Zibanejad and Kreider found themselves on a 2-on-1 that Skinner was able to turn away to keep things moving.

The Oilers headed back to the power play later in the period as Nick Bonino was called for holding Connor McDavid behind the Rangers net. This power play attempt for the Oilers would prove to be their strongest offensive showing of the night as Jonathan Quick was looking like the goalie that won two Stanley Cup’s a decade ago and the Rangers penalty killers were blocking shots like there was no tomorrow. Incredible showing by the Rangers defensively in those final couple of minutes in the second period.

Thanks to Quick and the Rangers penalty killers, the Rangers held onto that 1-0 through another period of play. The Rangers offense really picked up through the first half of the period but as the Oilers began to get their chances with the man advantage, the tide turned rather quickly. Second period tally for shots on goal would be 14-11 in favor of the Rangers as both teams went 0-for-2 on the power play with face-offs evened up at 50% aside. The game was quickly becoming quite the nail biter as there was plenty of hockey left with goals not coming as frequently as the chances were.

3rd Period:

The high intensity pace continued through the start of the third and just three minutes in, the Oilers managed to find a way to beat Quick. Zach Hyman found the puck all alone up close on Quick and pulled off a nice forehand-backhand move to tie the game up at one.

Not long afterwards, the Oilers came out of an offensive zone face-off with the puck and Evander Kane ended up picking up his own rebound to extend the Oilers lead to 2-1.

All of a sudden the narrative of the game completely shifted. Peter Laviolette opted to use the Rangers timeout in attempts to settle things down which always feels like the right decision. However, things went from bad to worse as Warren Foegele, who was having a particularly strong game to begin with, walked into the Rangers zone and let a shot go in the slot to beat Quick and extend the Oilers lead, 3-1. Three goals in a span of three and a half minutes for the Oilers.

Another defensive lapse by the Blueshirts resulted in another chance for Warren Foegele. It was K’Andre Miller blowing a tire at the Oilers blue line that left Foegele rushing the Rangers zone but it was Ryan Mcleod who put away the bouncing puck in the crease to make it a 4-1 game.

With half the period still remaining, there was plenty of time for the Rangers to try and fight back but the way they were playing, it wasn’t looking great. With about five minutes to go in the game, the Rangers got another power play chance as Foegele was sent off for hooking Mika Zibanejad. The Rangers pulled Quick for the extra attacker to make it a 6-on-4 and just as the penalty was coming to an end, Zibanejad banged in a loose puck in the crease to get the Rangers back on the board, 4-2.

The Rangers kept pushing but time was not on their side and the Oilers were holding them off just enough to maintain their lead. Will Cuylle would sneak a shot in with 0.1 seconds remaining in the game to bring them within a goal but alas, it would still be Edmonton’s win.

A third period collapse proved to be detrimental in what was otherwise a really solid night for the Rangers. Final tally on shots would be 34-28 in favor of the Rangers. Thankfully they get a chance to get right back at it tomorrow night as they’ll host the Buffalo Sabres for their final game before the holiday break.