The Rangers cannot seem to find the back of the net in their own building.
A 2-0 loss to the Oilers on Tuesday night made it three straight home shutout losses to begin the season, which Mollie Walker of the New York Post reports is the first time in NHL history that a team has “accomplished” that lowly feat.
The Blueshirts had their chances to break the scoreless drought at MSG. Sam Carrick was denied on a breakaway in the first period, and in the second, Braden Schneider rang one off the post. New York had three power plays on the night, including a brief 5-on-3 advantage, but could not capitalize.
The Rangers outshot Edmonton 30-22, but the elusive first goal at The Garden has yet to be recorded.
What makes the Blueshirts’ home scoring drought even more puzzling is the team’s performance on the road so far this season. After a 3-0 loss to the Penguins at home to open the season, New York bounced back two nights later with a dominant 4-0 win over the lowly Sabres, followed by a 6-1 revenge victory against Pittsburgh. Mike Sullivan’s group has had no issue piling on the goals away from MSG, but in Gotham, it has been another story.
The Rangers insist they will stay the course, believing that the goals will eventually come as they have already on the road. They won’t get their chance at that coveted first goal until Monday, when they are home against the Wild.