The New York Rangers are one of 10 teams in NHL history to be shut out in their first two
The New York Rangers are one of 10 teams in NHL history to be shut out in their first two home games in any one season. They try to avoid becoming the first with three straight, when the Edmonton Oilers visit Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night.
It’s pretty hard to fathom that the Rangers (2-2-0) haven’t scored yet in 120 minutes of hockey at MSG. That’s especially so after watching their most recent home game, when the Rangers blitzed Washington Capitals goalie Charlie Lindgren with 35 shots and 34 scoring chances (12-6 advantage in the high-danger variety), per Natural Stat Trick, yet lost 1-0.
To a man, starting at the top with coach Mike Sullivan, the Rangers believe that the type effort and execution displayed Sunday will lead to play plenty of goals and wins — both at home and on the road — this season. It just wasn’t the case Sunday.
Even Lindgren pointed out that the Rangers “are going to be a tough out this year.”
Sullivan stated postgame that one of the more impressive things about how well the Rangers played against the Capitals is that they did so against such a quality opponent. The Capitals not only finished atop the Metropolitan Division and Eastern Conference in 2024-25, they played well Sunday.
The Oilers (1-0-1) present an even bigger challenge. Not only do they have, arguably, the two best forwards in the League, with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, but the Oilers are an elite team that finished as Stanley Cup runners-up the past two seasons.
Not only do the Rangers face a star-studded, highly-skilled team Tuesday. But the Oilers are super motivated after falling just short against the Florida Panthers in two straight Stanley Cup Finals.
No one is more motivated than McDavid, it appears. The Oilers superstar, who’s been held to one assist the first two games this season, left a ton of money on the table by agreeing to a two-year, $25 million contract extension so that the team can afford to build and sustain a championship-level roster around him.
The Rangers didn’t measure up against McDavid and Co. last season, losing both games and getting out-scored 9-3. The Oilers are 9-2-1 in their past 12 games against the Rangers, including 5-1-0 at MSG.
Related: Top Rangers free agent targets after Connor McDavid extension with Oilers
3 storylines when Rangers host Oilers
1. Avoid track meet
The Rangers had plenty of success playing with pace against the Capitals. But that doesn’t mean they want to get into a track meet with the Oilers, one of the best skating teams in the League.
Yet, the Rangers do want to play a fast game. They can do that by being assertive in their decision making, and moving the puck quickly out of their end and through the neutral zone. Quick, sharp passing is key for the Rangers on Tuesday.
Relentless puck pursuit in the offensive end is vital against the Oilers — just watch video of how the Panthers got the best of them the past two springs. But so is the ability to slow them down and create turnovers in the neutral zone. Playing a structured and disciplined defensive game is key for the Rangers, who’ve allowed only five goals in four games this season.
2. Last line of defense
Even if the Rangers effectively slow down and neutralize the high-flying Oilers, you know the visitors will still get their scoring chances. So, that means Igor Shesterkin must be a difference maker in net for the Rangers.
Or simply, Shesterkin must keep doing what he’s doing
Igor Shesterkin to start the season:
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) October 12, 2025
3 Games Played
2 Goals Allowed
1 Shutout
.976 SV%
0.67 GAA
11.5 Million Dollar Man for a reason 🗽 pic.twitter.com/7Rca4Jt2Rp
In his first three starts this season, Shesterkin’s stopped 83 of 85 shots, for a ridiculous .976 save percentage. He already leads all goalies with 7.00 goals saved above expected, per Money Puck.
He’s well rested for this one since Jonathan Quick started Sunday. And you know Shesterkin is up for the challenge of shutting down McDavid (23 points in 15 games against the Rangers) and Draisaitl (who just passed the 400-goal milestone).
3. Ex-Oilers center is Rangers cornerstone now
Dollar for dollar, Sam Carrick is one of the best investments the Rangers made since Chirs Drury became general manager in 2021. Signed to a three-year, $3 million contract worth $1 million annually in July of 2024, Carrick continues to be the cornerstone of New York’s bottom-six forward group.
Carrick played 80 games last season and recorded an NHL career-high 20 points (six goals, 14 assists). He was the constant in an ever-changing group of third- and fourth-line forwards, and a fixture on New York’s solid penalty-kill unit.
The former Oilers center enters Tuesday leading the Rangers with three assists. Not bad for a 33-year-old fourth-liner averaging 13:07 TOI. More importantly, though, Carrick centers a wrecking ball line with towering wings Matt Rempe and Adam Edstrom that’s helping set the tone for the hard-charging north-south style Sullivan prefers.
That line’s played more 5v5 minutes (32:13) than any other Rangers threesome so far, per Natural Stat Trick. They’ve outscored opponents 2-0, out-chanced them 17-10, and their xGF is an impressive 71.25 percent.
New York Rangers projected lineup
Artemi Panarin — Mika Zibanejad — Alexis Lafreniere
Will Cuylle — J.T. Miller — Conor Sheary
Juuso Parssinen — Noah Laba– Taylor Raddysh
Adam Edstrom — Sam Carrick — Matt Rempe
Vladislav Gavrikov — Adam Fox
Matthew Robertson — Will Borgen
Urho Vaakanainen — Braden Schneider
Igor Shesterkin
Jonathan Quick
Rangers vs. Oilers: When, where, what time, how to watch
Who: New York Rangers vs. Edmonton Oilers
When: Tuesday Oct. 14 at 7 p.m. ET
Where: Madison Square Garden
How to watch: MSG
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Category: General Sports
