In a closely contested NHL game, the New York Rangers (NYR) took an early lead against the Edmonton Oilers and the Buffalo Sabres in two separate matches. The Rangers ended the first period against the Oilers with a 1-0 lead, showcasing a strong defensive performance with more shots on goal (SOG), hits, blocks, and fewer turnovers. Despite Edmonton having a slight edge in faceoffs and no power play opportunities, NYR's high-danger chances and expected goals favored them. Ryan Lindgren of the Rangers took the first penalty of the game for roughing Ryan McLeod, leading to an Oilers power play. The Rangers maintained their lead against the Oilers thanks to stellar play from Jonathan Quick, who was particularly effective during two PKs. Against the Buffalo Sabres, the Rangers also ended the first period ahead, with a 2-1 score. The goals for NYR were scored by Wheeler, assisted by Mika and Kreider, and a power play goal from Artemi Panarin with a wrist shot so precise that the Buffalo goalie didn't move. Buffalo's Rasmus Dahlin scored his 10th goal of the season, narrowing the gap. The Rangers' power play performance was highlighted when Trocheck drew a hooking penalty on Jordan Greenway, and NYR's power play, ranking first in the NHL, continued its scoring streak. The game saw physical play, with Will Cuylle of the Rangers involved in a fight with Erik Johnson of the Sabres after a hit on Casey Mittelstadt. Erik Johnson received an instigator penalty, a fighting major, and a game misconduct, while Jeff Skinner of the Sabres was given a 10-minute misconduct and later a tripping penalty. Rasmus Dahlin also took a hooking penalty late in the game, giving the Rangers a power play opportunity in the final moments. The Rangers faced some defensive lapses, allowing Jack Quinn of the Sabres to equalize early in the second period, making it 2-2. The game featured a series of penalties, potentially giving NYR the advantage to finish the game on the power play.
And now, Dahlin is sent off for hooking Mika, with 1:14 left, and 24 seconds left in the BUF power play. So 4-on-4 for 24 seconds, then #NYR finish regulation on the power play.
Rasmus Dahlin takes a bad penalty at the end of his shift, which will give the Rangers a power play late in regulation.
Not sure how long Jeff Skinner was out of the box after finishing his misconduct penalty, but he's back in there, for tripping. And #NYR goes to the power play.
Jeff Skinner takes a tripping penalty in the defensive zone. The Rangers' top-ranked power play takes the ice with 8:28 left in regulation.
To be clear, Erik Johnson was assessed a game misconduct. The Sabres are down to 5 defensemen. Jeff Skinner will be out of the penalty box shortly.
OK, some clarification. Erik Johnson gets an instigator, so 2 for that, 5 for fighting, and a 10-minute misconduct. And Skinner gets a 10-minute misconduct. https://t.co/gXYgM2rU8R
Jeff Skinner was given a 10-misconduct. That explains why Granato was so angry. Erik Johnson also received a 10-minute misconduct. Will Cuylle got away with just the 5-minute fighting major.
More penalties: Johnson also gets a 10-minute misconduct, as does Jeff Skinner. I'm honestly not sure what happened with Skinner 🤷♂️
Cuylle with a big hit behind on Ryan Johnson behind the Buffalo net, so another Johnson (Erik) steps in and challenges him. Spirited fight ensues, with Cuylle eventually dropping him. E. Johnson gets hit with unsportsmanlike, which he's not happy about, and #NYR to the PP.
Will Cuylle with a big hit on Casey Mittelstadt, who went down to the ice hard. Erik Johnson takes exception and challenges No. 50 to a fight, which Cuylle gets the better of. #NYR
Cuylle squishes Ryan Johnson into the end boards and Erik Johnson drops the gloves with Cuylle. Erik Johnson gets a 2-minute conduct penalty on top of the fighting major. So #NYR get a power play. The Sabres are not happy.
Erik Johnson didn't like a hit on his D partner, Ryan Johnson, so he challenged Will Cuylle to a fight. Landed a few rights before it got broken up. Rangers getting a power play out of this. Erik Johnson is furious.
Rangers are still a bit too loose. Jack Quinn makes them pay early in the second period and it's 2-2.
End 1, #NYR 2 (Lindgren, Panarin PPG), BUF 1 (Dahlin). SOG 13-9, Rangers. K'Andre leads Rangers in TOI with 8:03. (His D partner, Trouba, has played 6:03.) Per @NatStatTrick, BUF leads in 5-on-5 scoring chances, 12-8, and HD chances, 5-2.
Sabres trail 2-1 at the end of the first period. They had more 5-on-5 high danger scoring chances than the Rangers (5-2), according Natural Stat Trick, but UPL was screened on the first goal. May not have seen the shot on the second, either. Very important goal by Dahlin.
at the end of the first period it's 2-1 NYR. Shots were13-9 Rangers.
Rasmus Dahlin gets a centering feed from behind #NYR net and scores, 2-1 game
Rasmus Dahlin's 10th goal of the season cuts the Sabres' deficit to 2-1 with 3:23 left in the 1st period. Heck of a centering pass by Jordan Greenway, who was pinned against the boards behind the Rangers' net.
Rasmus Dahlin gets one right back for Buffalo with a power one-timer from the slot. That cuts the #NYR lead to 2-1 with 3:23 remaining in the first.
Artemi Panarin snipes a power-play goal from the top of the faceoff circle, #NYR up 2-0
Panarin with a wrist shot so good Buffalo goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen didn't even move. That PPG makes it 2-0 #NYR
Jordan Greenway called for hooking Trocheck with 6:42 left in the first period. The Rangers' power play ranks 1st in the NHL and has scored in six straight. Sabres won't have their best PK forward because Greenway is in the box.
Trocheck draws a hooking penalty on Jordan Greenway, so the #NRY will head to the PP with 5:42 remaining in the first.
#NYR get the first power play of the game, when we return. Jordan Greenway is off for hooking.
Consecutive scoring chances for the Sabres. Tage Thompson hit the post and Kyle Okposo drove to the net to try to get the puck past Shesterkin. Rangers still ahead 1-0 with 9:10 left in the 1st period.
Big ovation as the period ends. #NYR still lead, 1-0, but only because Jonathan Quick was magnificent on those two PKs. SOG are 22-18 (it was 20-8 at one point). Faceoffs are 15-15. Trouba (16:07) leads both teams in TOI. Trocheck (15:34) is second.
Ryan Lindgren takes the first penalty of the game for #NYR. He's called for roughing Ryan McLeod. EDM to the power play.
End of 1, #NYR lead 1-0 (Wheeler, from Mika and Kreider). SOG are 8-7, Rangers. Faceoffs are 9-8, Rangers. Per @NatStatTrick, scoring chances are 11-6, Rangers, and HD chances are 4-2, Rangers. Officially, Rangers have one giveaway and three takeaways. EDM has two giveaways.
End 1P: #NYR 1, #LetsGoOilers 0 SOG: 8-7 NYR Hits: 8-5 NYR Blocks: 7-6 NYR Turnovers: NYR 1; EDM 5 FO: 53% (9-for-17) EDM PP: NYR 0/1; EDM 0/0 HDCF: 4-2 NYR xGF: 0.73-0.46 NYR A lot to like for the NYR in that period. Playing fast, making high-skill plays and defending.