|
 Running on fumes in their second game in as many nights, the
Rangers shut out the Oilers 2-0 at Rexall Place.
"We were playing back-to-back, and we got in fairly late last
night," said Rangers coach Alain Vigneault, whose team beat the
Canucks in Vancouver on Saturday. "But we did what we had to do to
win a road game.
"We had to make high-percentage plays. We got the lead in the first,
and when we made a couple of mistakes, our goaltender made the saves
he had to make. We did what we had to do to get the two points on
the road."
The Rangers (14-10-4) scored once in the first period, then added an
empty-netter in the last minute to hand the Oilers (7-19-5) their
15th loss in 16 games.
"We've had a couple of games that have gotten away from us, and it
was good to see us close this game down," said defenseman Ryan
McDonagh, New York's captain. "We had a couple of breakdowns, and
Hank (goalie Henrik Lundqvist) made some big saves, but for the most
part, we kept everybody in front of us and blocked shots.
 "Ultimately we did enough little things and made enough plays to get
ourselves the win."
The Oilers' anemic offense failed them again. A team that was held
to two or fewer goals in 16 of its past 21 games got shut out for
the fourth time this season.
"We don't have much going," said a dejected Oilers winger David
Perron. "We're trying everything, but we don't have much going right
now.
"They outplayed us in a lot of aspects;, they looked like they were
the team that was rested. It's very frustrating. We have to find a
way to bring more energy. We need more out of everyone, including
myself."
The hosts, plagued by terrible starts this season, got off the mark
first, outshooting the Rangers 4-0 in the first five minutes and
drawing the game's first penalty.
Edmonton did nothing with the power play, however, and that is when
the momentum turned.
The Rangers had the next five shots and went up 1-0 when a centering
pass from defenseman Dan Girardi banked in off Oilers center Mark
Arcobello's skate and into the net past goalie Ben Scrivens at 16:04
of the opening period.
The Oilers, who own the league's worst record, have led after the
first period only three times in 31 games this season.
[to top of second column] |
"It was a tough night to get anything going, it looked like
watching paint dry," said Oilers coach Dallas Eakins, whose club
managed just 11 shots over the final 55 minutes. "It seemed like
(the Rangers) were able to block a ton of shots and we weren't able
to get them through, and the game just seemed to come to a
standstill."
The Oilers didn't generate many chances in the third. After Edmonton
pulled the goalie with 1:36 left in regulation, New York left winger
Carl Hagelin sealed the game on an empty-netter with 22 seconds to
go.
Lundqvist, who played both ends of the back-to-back games, made 16
saves to post the shutout. Scrivens stopped 20 shots.
"We were patient," Lundqvist said. "We felt like they were playing
not to make any mistakes and were staying back. They were waiting
for us to make mistakes so that they could counter. But we did a
good job of playing a smart hockey game. We just stuck with the game
plan and let our chances come to us.
"I thought we were the better team the whole game, but at the same
time, it was still a one-goal game for most of it."
NOTES: Rangers C Derick Brassard was sent home from the road trip
after being diagnosed with the mumps. He is the second Ranger, and
14th player in the NHL, to come down with the sickness this season.
Brassard was replaced by LW Tanner Glass, who played his 400th NHL
game. ... Oilers D Oscar Klefbom is out with a sore foot after being
hit with a puck against the Anaheim Ducks on Friday, so the club
recalled D Brad Hunt of AHL Oklahoma City to fill the void. Hunt led
the AHL in points per game by a defenseman with 22 points in 17
games. ... The Oilers' power play began the night 26th in the NHL at
13.2 percent, and Edmonton came up empty on two chances with the man
advantage Sunday. ... The Rangers play at Calgary on Tuesday, the
same night Edmonton plays at Arizona.
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2014 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
