It was Military Appreciation Day at the Garden for the afternoon matinee between the New York Rangers and the Edmonton Oilers. Rick Nash got things started in the first and the red hot Ranger power play propelled the Blueshirts to a sixth straight win.
- New York Rangers: 4 (9-7-2 20 Pts)
- Edmonton Oilers: 2 (6-9-1 13 Pts)
- NYR Goal Scorers: Rick Nash (2), Pavel Buchenevich, Michael Grabner (ENG)
- EDM Goal Scorers: Jesse Puljujärvi, Conor McDavid
- NHL, Final, Box Score
- Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Rick Nash finally seems to be heating up lately as he is starting to get rewarded for his simple yet effective play the last five games. During the New York Rangers’ first goal, Nash and Kevin Hayes found themselves on the receiving end of a lucky bounce and they took advantage. Hayes makes a great no-look pass to freeze Oilers goaltender Cam Talbot and slides it over to Nash who taps it home into an empty net.
Only a short while later, the Oilers were able to tie things up on a goal by heralded prospect Jesse Puljujärvi, who was just recently called up. Oilers Center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had some great pressure and stick work on the forecheck, which caused Brady Skjei to turn the puck over. Puljujarvi collected the loose puck and ripped it home for his first of the year.
As the second period began, the ice began to tilt towards the Oilers, leading to a Steven Kampfer hooking penalty, in which it didn’t take long for the Oilers to strike. Connor McDavid got himself to the front of the net on a mad scramble and buried his seventh of the year.
But those pesky Rangers came storming back, striking once again with the red-hot power play by none other than Pavel Buchnevich. Mats Zuccarello carried the puck deep into the zone and showed some tremendous patience, sliding it over to Kevin Shattenkirk. The power play quarterback himself, almost in one motion, passed it right back to Buch on the back door and, voila, tie game.
Ryan McDonagh with an incredible keep in play allowed the Rangers to take the lead late in the second. McDonagh made the play at the blue line, spun and threw a pass to a wide-open Brady Skjei who found Rick Nash for his second of the game. Once again, the power play can do no wrong.
Nash’s power play tally would stand all throughout the third period until Michael Grabner scored on an empty netter with just seconds remaining. The Rangers continue to roll, winning now six straight. They will travel to Chicago next Wednesday for an 8 PM showdown with the Blackhawks.