Rangers at Oilers
THE STORY: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins experienced a dreamlike start to his young NHL career. The No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft notched a hat trick in just his third game, currently leads Edmonton in scoring, and has shown enough ability that he may stick with the Oilers past the season’s first nine game. Despite his early success, Nugent-Hopkins may be soon receiving a lesson in humility. Oilers coach Tom Renney has openly suggested the idea of having the 18-year-old sit for a game or two to get a look at what his team would be like without Nugent-Hopkins in the fold. Indications are that the first game the Oilers could hold out Nugent-Hopkins would be Saturday’s showdown with the New York Rangers. Center Sam Gagner is ready to return from an ankle injury for the tilt, and his arrival may come at the expense of his rookie teammate.
TV: 10 p.m. ET, MSG+, CBC.
ABOUT THE RANGERS (2-1-2): The road-weary Rangers had a rather forgettable start to their season-opening, seven-game trip. But following three straight losses, New York has strung together a pair of victories and can make it three straight wins with a win against the Oilers. Henrik Lundqvist, who has started every game in net, made 33 saves in Thursday night’s 3-2 overtime win over Calgary. The veteran goaltender has stopped 73 of 75 shots his past two appearances. Free-agent acquisition Brad Richards leads the Rangers with five points, notching a point in every contest.
ABOUT THE OILERS (2-2-2): Nugent-Hopkins isn’t the only former No. 1 pick in Edmonton’s lineup making an early impact. Taylor Hall is also showing positive returns in his second season. Last year’s top pick has a goal and three assists in five games while leading the Oilers with a plus-2 rating. Hall missed a game last week with an illness but returned for Edmonton’s 2-1 shootout loss against Minnesota on Thursday - the third Oilers setback in four games. Gagner, who had 42 points last season, has yet to play after spraining his ankle during the preseason.
OVERTIME:
1. These teams had a memorable battle in last year’s lone meeting, which the Rangers won 8-2 thanks to Marian Gaborik’s hat trick. The game featured five fights and a combined 154 penalty minutes.
2. The Oilers are allowing just 1.7 goals per game, good for third-best in the NHL. Consequently, they are averaging 1.7 goals themselves, which ranks 30th.