Locked Out Again: Edmonton Blanks New York for Third Straight Shutout Loss at the Garden
The New York Rangers have been a team you would more often see being outplayed and still winning. As of right now, it seems the exact opposite is happening. New York entered MSG, finally looking to hear that goal horn again, but Edmonton had other plans. That's right, for the third straight home game, the Blueshirts have been blanked, setting a new NHL record to start a season. To make it more frustrating for New York fans, they looked like the better team yet again, but the Oilers' goaltender was locked in for a full 60 minutes to help the Oilers secure the 2-0 shutout in MSG.
As the puck dropped, New York had an early chance but failed to capitalize. Both teams were all over the ice, but it was the Rangers who needed the first goal of this game. Sam Carrick set up Will Cuylle with a beautiful pass, but goaltender Stuart Skinner kept the game scoreless. Evan Bouchard had nothing in the way of making this a 1-0 Edmonton lead, but Igor Shesterkin flashed the leather with a beautiful glove save. Both goaltenders were battling, and this game went into the second period scoreless, much to the New York fans' frustration.
With the first period ending, that made it 140 minutes of scoreless hockey to start this season at MSG. First, it was Artur Silovs, then it was Charlie Lindgren, and now there was the possibility of Stuart Skinner continuing the scoreless streak. The Blueshirts have been playing undoubtedly better than in their home opener, but they just couldn't finish their golden opportunities. The question has been going around ever since their first road win against Buffalo: Who will score the first home goal?
What's worse than getting blanked in your first two home games of the season? As rough as that is, the answer is getting potentially blanked in your first three home games this season. That second period was all New York; everything was right, but nothing was finished. To make it even worse, Trent Frederic took advantage of Urho Vaakanainen failing to send it in and made it 1-0 Edmonton on a breakaway. Fans begin to wonder if this is what it's like when other teams face off against Igor Shesterkin.
The streak continued to 160 minutes of scoreless hockey at MSG this season. Starting the first period being outshot 8-6, New York retaliated with 11 shots in the second period, while Edmonton managed only three, scoring the only goal of the period. At some point, one must tip one's cap to Stuart Skinner at this point in the game. Though he may not be the best in the league, he's been the difference tonight. Through 160 minutes of scoreless hockey at MSG, the question remained for that first goal at MSG this season.
New York continued through the third, doing everything right except scoring. Their third power play of the night once again failed to execute; Stuart Skinner was locked in. Carrick was no doubt the best Ranger on the ice, being robbed by both Skinner and the post tonight. The net emptied for the third straight home game, and they made every right play, but still couldn't beat Skinner. Adam Henrique was soon set up and scored to give the Oilers a 2-0 lead.
Mike Sullivan has assured fans that New York is playing the way he wants them to. They had golden opportunities all game, but now fans know what it's like to be on the receiving end of a locked-in goalie. If it weren't only game number five of the season, perhaps this would be a bit concerning, but this is only just the beginning for the Blueshirts to find a way. Edmonton will stay in New York to face the Islanders; meanwhile, the Blueshirts head on the road, which may be quite relieving to a few fans, to face the Toronto Maple Leafs. Keep playing like tonight, and New York will find a way, but the question remains: Which Ranger gets the first goal in MSG this season?
