Grabner scores twice as Rangers top Oilers
EDMONTON, Alberta -- The New York Rangers completed a season sweep of the Edmonton Oilers, posting a 3-1 victory Sunday at Rogers Arena.
Michael Grabner led the way with two goals for the Rangers, who won for the seventh time in eight games. New York (12-4-0) beat Edmonton 5-3 at Madison Square Garden 10 days earlier.
The Oilers, after starting out 4-1-0 in their brand new arena, fell to 4-4-0 at home and 9-6-1 overall as they head out for a three game Western road trip.
Dan Girardi also scored for the Rangers, while Andrej Sekera collected the Oilers' lone goal.
New York goalie Antti Raanta made 38 saves for the win, while Edmonton goalie Cam Talbot stopped 24 shots.
The Rangers were playing their second game in as many nights and starting Raanta, their backup goaltender, but it didn't matter much as they went right to work putting Edmonton on its heels.
Grabner made it 1-0 Rangers just 80 seconds after the opening faceoff, and Girardi gave them a 2-0 lead at 13:18.
It was the 10th time in 16 games the Oilers gave up the first goal and eighth time they have given up a goal in the first three minutes of a game.
The Oilers closed it to 2-1 on a goal from Sekera at 18:45 of the first period, but Grabner restored the two-goal lead with a breakaway goal in the second period. The Rangers have outscored their opponents 29-8 in the middle frame this year.
NOTES: The Oilers sent RW Taylor Beck back to AHL Bakersfield now that RW Zack Kassian is back from three games out with a lower-body injury. ... The Rangers are averaging a league high 4.13 goals per game and own the best goal differential (plus-27) in the NHL. ... Oilers G Cam Talbot leads the NHL in games played (145) and saves (400). ... The Oilers have allowed a goal in the first two minutes of a game seven times this season, yet they've only trailed at the first intermission twice in their first 15 games. ... Eleven wins in their first 15 games ties a New York Rangers franchise record. They've done it three times, including the last two years in a row. ... Rangers C Josh Jooris is skating again as he recovers from a separated shoulder but is still a few weeks away. ... The Oilers came into Sunday's game with six players on the injured list, down from two games ago when it was eight.