Edmonton Oilers: Analyzing the New York Rangers Loss

The New York Rangers handed the Edmonton Oilers their third straight loss on Saturday Night. What did the Oilers do wrong in this game?

The Edmonton Oilers suffered their third straight loss at the hands of the New York Rangers last night at Rogers Place. It was a competitive game for the most part based on the 3-2 score as both teams were trading blows in the second period.

The fact that the Oilers couldn’t capitalize on some chances in the third period was the deciding factor that handed them their 34th loss of the year. It seemed like a game that the Oilers had a good shot at winning on paper but yet again disappoint their fanbase every single time.

The one thing that was disheartening in this particular game for the Edmonton Oilers was that they gave up a goal in the very first minute. The Oilers had to play catch up throughout the game as the Rangers kept on the offensive pressure. It’s those type of defensive lapses are the reason why the Oilers are where they are as the season is coming to a close.

Many analysts have put a lot of the blame on Cam Talbot but what about the defencemen in front of him. Time and again it’s those players that have dropped the ball which has shifted the pressure to Talbot to clean up their mistakes. The Oilers’ defensive core is something that will need to be addressed during the offseason.

Takeaways

The main takeaway from this game is the return of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to the Edmonton Oilers. Since being placed on the injured reserve for the past six weeks, Leon Draisaitl was manning the second line in Hopkins place.

He thrived in the position, but it added more pressure on Connor McDavid to manage the offensive pace for his line. With Hopkins back in the fold, McDavid got his favorite right-winger back with him which will bold well moving forward.

Other than Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Connor McDavid, both scoring goals for the team, nobody else really made much of an impact in this game. Newcomer Pontus Aberg was a plus one on the ice as he’s fitting in on the third line and trying to make the most of his opportunity. There could be a scenario down the line where he could be bumped up to the second line by next season if he keeps on outperforming himself in every game.

Adjustments

As for rookie defenseman Ethan Bear, the 20-year-old has had a rough couple of games adjusting to the NHL landscape. He’s a promising talent that’s playing with a core that hasn’t been good all year-long. His mistakes are something that he should own, and he’ll learn from in this last stretch of the season.

The Edmonton Oilers will be facing off against the Arizona Coyotes tomorrow night. The last time these two teams faced off, it was a 1-0 loss for Edmonton. It is a game that not only is winnable but also much-needed to end this 3-game losing streak. Everybody will need to keep their eye on the penalty killing and power play of the Oilers.

Usually, the Oilers frequently win or lose games on their effort, so beating the worst team in the league should be a no-brainer.