EDMONTON, Alberta — This is the Rangers' first losing streak of the season, and the team should realize they have won twice as many as they have lost in regulation thus far.
It must be pointed out that even though they were 2-2 in their last four Western outings — a disastrous 6-2 loss to the Oilers on Saturday night at Rogers Place halted that momentum. The Rangers are here by more than just luck. Think about how erratic the play has been over the past month.
It's been exactly one year since the Blueshirts took this very Canadian West region by storm last season. It feels like it was over a century ago already.
The Rangers have already allowed five or more runs this season. Next week is Thanksgiving.
“We knew [the Oilers were a good team on the rush]we talked about it,” head coach Peter Laviolette said. “We talked about staying on top of them and trying to get better, and sometimes we got put in bad positions, sometimes we lost footraces, sometimes we turned the puck over, sometimes we fell down in the offensive zone and lost our edge and rush.” It just comes right back to you. ”
Laviolette has preached the concept of attacking the game since taking over the team last year. But the Rangers bench boss has seen his team lie on their backs and show their bellies on numerous occasions this season.
Rangers have had zero fighting spirit going into games of late and that was an obvious concern, inevitably giving them the upper hand on their opponents every time.
In the past two first periods combined, the Blueshirts have lost a disappointing 41-14. On Saturday night, the Oilers allowed two goals in the first 20 minutes on 21 shots from Rangers goaltender Jonathan Quick.
“We weren't good enough the last two games. We didn't have a good first period,” Jimmy Vesey said. “The last two first periods we had about 20 shots, and overall, I don't think our first period was great all year long. That's not a recipe for success. They made 20 shots. We're taking book shots, I'm not saying it's 20 quality shots, but it puts us in a kind of scramble and we're playing behind the eight ball. Become.”
Edmonton played the game at a different speed, but the Rangers had no answers at all, forcing the visitors into their own side at one point. It has become very difficult for the Rangers to generate consistent offensive zone time.
Artemi Panarin's goal sparked an odd-man rush for the Oilers, then Vasyl Podkolzin scored from high up to take the lead.
There was little power play for the Rangers, but the lack of urgency with the man advantage allowed the Oilers, who have the NHL's second-worst penalty kill, to score their first short-handed goal of the season.
Darnell Nurse followed the play and hit a quick clear shot for a 2-0 lead after the first period.
The Rangers allowed another odd-man rush on the next power play, and Vincent Trocheck was called for hooking to negate the man advantage.
Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid then converted a 2-on-1 chance during 4-on-4 play, with the former scoring his NHL-leading 16th goal of the season.
“We had some chances on the first few power plays, some quick chances, some good looks, but we just came together and finished,” Trocheck said. “Certainly we need to get better at search, we need to get even better at entry. Breakouts — it's not pretty. We've got to figure it out.”
Panarin tried to make up for his early missteps by keeping the Rangers from shutting out with a goal at the 15:02 mark of the second period, but the Oilers' onslaught continued.
Rogers Place began to taunt Quick, echoing his name throughout the concourse below.
McDavid then scored twice in the final frame, deflecting a cross-zone pass from Evan Bouchard on one and waiting on the Rangers' defense on the other.
It is worth noting that despite having played fewer games, Rangers are in 4th place in the Metropolitan Division, with only 2 points out of 3rd place and 5 points out of 1st place.
Please remember this as I tend to forget it these days.
