The Edmonton Oilers took a trip down to Madison Square Garden on Sunday, Nov. 1 to take on the New York Rangers. The Rangers were looking to bounce back after a 3-6 loss hosting the Los Angeles Kings. The Oilers were looking to keep their winning streak going after shutting out the Islanders 4-0.
First Period
Puck drop at the Garden began. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins won the opening faceoff against Mika Zibanejad. The first period started with a bang for the Oilers. Fifty seconds in, Evan Bouchard assisted Connor McDavid for the first goal of the game. The Oilers continued their first-period dominance five minutes later when Bouchard assisted Colton Dach on a wrist shot goal. The Rangers were trying to pick up the pace in the first period but it was not enough. The Oilers took more shots, but none went in. The Rangers were trying to hit off the boards but that did not work. At the end of the first period, the Oilers would be ahead by two goals but the Rangers had nothing.
Second Period
The puck drop for the second period began with Nugent-Hopkins winning the face-off. The main goal for the second period was for the Rangers to either tie or get ahead of the Oilers. The first 10 minutes of the period were a lot of turnovers for the Rangers. Edmonton would strike again as McDavid and Leon Draisaitl assisted Bouchard with a slap shot goal. The Rangers had to try to get the momentum going and three minutes later the first goal for the Blue Shirts was scored. Scott Morrow and Mika Zibanejad assisted Pavel Dorofeyev for a snap shot goal. The Rangers had control of the puck for the remainder of the second period but it was not enough. At the end of the second period, the Oilers were still leading by three goals but the Rangers had one goal on the board going into the third period.
Third Period
The third period started with a face-off won by Zibanejad. This was the first time in the game, the Rangers had any control of the puck at the beginning. This period could either be the tying factor for the Rangers or the Oilers would take the lead that the Rangers could not bounce back from. Throughout the period, the Oilers and Blue Shirts were trying to get another goal. Towards the end of the period, it would be the Oilers to take the final goal of the game. Draisaitl and Ryan Shea set up Dach for a wrist shot goal.
At the end of the game, the Edmonton Oilers would defeat the New York Rangers 4-1.
Moving Forward
The New York Rangers would fall to fifth in the Metropolitan Division. The Rangers are looking to end their losing streak on Tuesday Nov. 3 at 7 pm as they host the St. Louis Blues. The Edmonton Oilers remain at first in the Pacific Division. The Oilers will end their trip through the Tri-State area as they go across the Hudson River to play the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday Nov. 3 at 7:30 pm.
