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As November begins, the New York Rangers embark on a demanding stretch of eight games in 16 days, starting with a matchup against the Edmonton Oilers at Madison Square Garden on Sunday. The Rangers (7-6-1) are coming off a five-day hiatus, their last outing a 6-3 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Monday. That defeat marked their first home loss of the season (6-1-0) and extended their losing streak to a season-high three games.
Despite the extended rest, coach Mike Sullivan kept his lineup plans under wraps after defensemen Sean Durzi (undisclosed) and Braden Schneider (illness) missed Saturday's practice. The Rangers, who had used the same six defensemen in all 14 games, recalled Matthew Robertson from Hartford of the AHL. Scott Morrow, who turns 24 on Sunday, has been a healthy scratch all season. Sullivan did announce that Dylan Garand will start in goal, his 10th consecutive appearance (eight starts, two in relief) since Igor Shesterkin suffered a season-ending knee injury on October 9. The 24-year-old Garand is 4-5-1 with a 2.69 goals-against average, .899 save percentage, and one shutout.
Garand and his teammates will need to tighten their defensive play against the league's most prolific offense. The Oilers average 4.21 goals per game, and Connor McDavid has been on a tear, registering at least one point in every game and leading the NHL with 37 points (eight goals, 29 assists) in 14 games—a 222-point pace. "I just focus on stopping the puck, it doesn't matter who's shooting it," Garand said with a chuckle about facing McDavid. "They're a good team, and they have some really good players, so it's exciting, for sure."
Powered by McDavid and playing a more structured defensive system under new coach Mike Babcock, the Oilers (10-2-2) sit atop the Western Conference. They are 5-1-1 in their past seven games, including a 4-0 shutout of the Islanders on Saturday. Last season, the Rangers split the series with the Oilers, winning 4-3 in overtime on the road on October 30 after being shut out 2-0 at MSG on October 14. Overall, the Rangers have lost four of their past five against Edmonton.
Key Analysis
The Rangers' defensive corps faces a significant test with Durzi and Schneider's status uncertain. The recall of Robertson and the potential insertion of Morrow could disrupt chemistry, but the team has little choice. Garand's performance will be critical; he must withstand an Oilers attack that features McDavid, who is on a historic scoring pace. The Rangers' ability to stay disciplined and avoid penalties will be key, as Edmonton's power play is lethal. This game marks the beginning of a grueling schedule, and a strong showing could set the tone for the coming weeks.
Projected Lineup:
- Pavel Dorofeyev - Mika Zibanejad - Alexis Lafreniere
- Tye Kartye - J.T. Miller - Oliver Bjorkstrand
- Will Cuylle - Noah Laba - Gabe Perreault
- Eeli Tolvanen - Luke Glendening - Taylor Raddysh
- Valdislav Gavrikov - Adam Fox
- Marcus Pettersson - Sean Durzi
- Alberts Smits - Braden Schneider
- Dylan Garand - James Reimer
Game Details:
- Who: New York Rangers vs. Edmonton Oilers
- When: Sunday, November 1 at 6 p.m. ET
- Where: Madison Square Garden
- How to watch: MSG
Originally reported by yahoo.