Following back-to-back wins to open a five-game road trip, the New York Rangers return to the ice Thursday night when they visit the struggling Edmonton Oilers.
The Rangers, who went 24-9-8 on the road last season, improved to 3-1-0 away from Madison Square Garden with a 3-1 victory at Calgary Tuesday. New York opened the trip with 4-1 win at Seattle Saturday.
The Rangers scored three times in the second period, including power-play goals by Alexis Lafreniere and Chris Kreider, to back a sparkling 24-save performance by Igor Shesterkin and pick up their first win at the Saddledome since 2018.
"It's a tough building to play in," said Lafreniere, who redirected Erik Gustafsson's point shot to tie it at 1-1. "They're a good team and they play hard. It was a good effort by us. ... It wasn't pretty at times but we got the job done. Two big points."
The victory moved New York atop the Metro Division standings heading into Wednesday night's action.
Kreider also scored on a redirection of an Artemi Panarin pass near the right post. It was his team-leading fifth goal of the season, three of which have come on the power play. It was the 95th power-play goal of Kreider's career, while Panarin picked up an assist to give him a point in all six games this season (three goals, five assists).
"It was a good two points on the road," Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette said. "You're on the road and you're dealing with some time changes and travel and those sorts of things. I thought the guys just stuck with it and got ourselves two points."
Time change won't be a problem on Thursday for the Rangers, who get to stay in Alberta and face an Edmonton team likely minus superstar Connor McDavid (upper-body injury) that has just one regulation win (1-4-1) this season. McDavid, who is doubtful for Thursday's game, was injured in Saturday's defeat against the visiting Winnipeg Jets and missed Tuesday's 7-4 loss at the Minnesota Wild.
In the loss to the Wild, the Oilers surrendered five third-period goals and picked up three infractions involving too many men on the ice. Ryan Hartman had a hat trick and five points for the Wild and would have had more if not for superb goaltending by Jack Campbell, who made at least three grade-A stops during a 12-save second period.
"I thought the second period for Jack might have been one of his best as an Edmonton Oiler," head coach Jay Woodcroft said.
Warren Foegele had two goals, and Evander Kane had a goal and an assist for the Oilers, who led 3-2 heading into the final period.
"I don't think there's anything to really be proud of," Foegele said of his two-goal performance. "We've got one win. So it's back to the drawing board but I believe in this group. Guys are working hard. It's just the little mistakes that are killing us right now."
The Oilers play their next four games in Edmonton, including the much-anticipated Heritage Classic against Calgary outdoors at Commonwealth Stadium on Sunday night when there's an outside chance McDavid could be back.
"This group has it in us to get out of this funk," Foegele said. "We've just got to continue to be competitive but we've got to do it for a full 60 (minutes)."
--Field Level Media