As Oilers appreciate goalkeeper Stuart Skinner, Rangers make a dubious history on home ice
Shortly before Stuart Skinner began to describe in detail how he held New York Rangers without target, one of his teammates Edmonton Oilers joked along the lines “He gets shutdown and wrap in his own bags.
Around the time of the light Quip or shortly after it, there was a tone of distrust from the guards.
While Oilers appreciated Skinner’s efforts to win 2-0 on Tuesday, the Rangers created some dubious history by becoming the first team in the NHL history that did not interfere with 180 minutes without home ice.
The stripe is 183: 36, if you count the final goal of their unfortunate 82-game excursions known as the season 2024-25, which for almost decades with Pittsburgh Penguins introduced Mike Sullivan.
“I don’t know whether to laugh or cry,” said Mika Zibanejad, who in the second period, which would normally convert, took three shots and gave away in the second period. “I honestly don’t know.”
Edmonton Oilers goalkeeper Stuart Skinner (74) protects the network from New York Rangers’ Alexis Lafreniere (13) during the second period of the NHL hockey game on Tuesday, October 14, 2025 in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved
Among the things that left the Rangers confused, two attachments hit in the second period, including one case, when Sam Carrick fired, which seemed to sail over the skinner, but hit the center of the partition and landed in front of the goal line.
“We get a lot of chances,” said Captain JT Miller after Rangers couldn’t get any of their 35 shots around Washington goalkeeper Charlie Lindgren. “It is a unique beginning of the season and that (stinking) that we had a few games where we feel as if we got a lot of ourselves in the second team and we will not get rewarded. Over time, the results will come.”
“I didn’t see it this way to start a season where we just can’t buy it, but I think it’s a place where you can rely on an experience and our veterans who were around and just held,” Carrick said. “We know that they come here sooner or later, it’s just a matter of time.”
Whether it is a gaseous thing or encounters some hot goals, it may be on the debate, but it can also indicate where the Oilers and Rangers are heading based on their early results.
Edmonton is three games for its second season as an advocate of conference champions, which last achieved Wayne Gretzky in 1987-88 in the last season.
Last season, Oilers started slowly and got OutCored 15-3 in the season that opens. It was part of Middleling 6-7-1 Start into 14 games before they went 23-6-2 through their next 31 to establish themselves as a strong candidate at a charged Western conference.
In the years 2023-24 the beginning was even worse. Start 3-9-1 led to coach Jay Woodcroft Ouster and Oilers established himself in the last 27 games before the break All-Star became 24-3-0.
This time only a blown three-bridge line and a lengthy loss of shootouts in the seasonal opening to the flame of Calgary separate the Oilers from the winning lane with three games. In the last two peas against Canucks and Rangers, Edmonton allowed one goal on 45 shots on the goal, and Skinner’s performance helped Oilers to survive the night when scanning chances were abundant against opponents who want to break through in the season with anticipation of modesty.
The New York Rangers ‘Sam Carrick (39) shoots the puck around Edmonton Oilers’ Troy Stecher (51) during the second period of the NHL hockey game on Tuesday, October 14, 2025 in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved
“There were many chances of scoring against us, more than we would like to give up,” said Edmonton Kris Knoblauch. “But he played a really strong game. And they weren’t easy to save, a lot of Eastern West, saving the side where he had to be fast, and I thought he was moving really well.”
“You win different ways, whether your playing game comes big or killing or defensive games. We won the goal with the goal tonight.”
Knoblauch is absolutely accurate about chances. He made his comments after the Rangers had 74 attempts to shoot, two nights after Oilers admitted 41 attempts at Canucks.
“I think it’s really good for our morality in general, that he is able to fight one, is able to fight, grind and win the game hard,” Skinner said. “It was a male game there, and the way the boys played, they deserved both points tonight.”
The Rangers hope they can say that they have won the game with Igor Sesterkin’s goal, but until they get a sought -after breakthrough at home, the problem will be scoring by telling.