Rangers goal breakdown: Georgiev, Strome, Lafreniere shine in win

The Rangers, on the second of a back to back with their backup in net and without their best player, could have rolled over in this one. Instead, they took advantage of their chances when they got them, and Alex Georgiev was excellent, making many difficult stops look easy. It wasn’t pretty, but it was a third win in a row for a team that needed to get back on track.

Even strength play continues to be a problem, and the Oilers did control most of this game. That said, the Rangers did play significantly better at evens, getting in on the forecheck and, for the most part, preventing speed through the neutral zone. The offense is still one-and-done, which is a concern, but getting the forecheck and neutral zone play going again is the bigger area to fix.

Alexis Lafreniere is also waking up. Much like how Kaapo Kakko needed a gift or two to get things going, Lafreniere got his second gift of a goal, and is much more confident on the ice. He’s playing like a kid that was the first overall pick. Laf is really clicking with Ryan Strome.

Rangers 1, Oilers 0 – Another goalie gift

The Rangers now have three goals from goalie gifts in the last two games. This time, the soft dump in combined with the Ryan Strome forecheck forced Mikko Kostkinen into the turnover, and Alexis Lafreniere finished.

Rangers 2, Oilers 0 – Lafreniere is heating up

Alexis Lafreniere made the great pass to Barclay Goodrow, who went basically untouched by a bad Oilers defense, who buried it. This was a great rush up the ice, one of the few breakouts with speed in this game for the Rangers.

Rangers 2, Oilers 1 – No forecheck

The Rangers didn’t have much of a forecheck on this goal by the Oilers, giving them space to work. They gained the zone and managed to catch a pair of Rangers standing still at the blue line, which opened up the rush chance. It was a great pass from Tyler Benson to Cody McLeod for the finish.

Rangers 3, Oilers 1 – Powerplay seals it

Chris Kreider with another deflection goal, that barely squeaked through Koskinen.

Rangers 4, Oilers 1 – Bank shot

Strome’s centering pass went off the defenseman and really sealed it for the Rangers.

Game Flow

The Rangers didn’t get much in this game, as the Oilers really took it to them for multiple stretches throughout the game. The Blueshirts were more one-and-done on offense, and Georgiev was a difference maker.

Shot Heatmap

I don’t think it would surprise anyone when we say the Oilers controlled the majority of the game. The game flow showed it, as does the shot heatmap, but you didn’t need either one of those. Most of the game was played in the Rangers end.

While most of the game was played in the Rangers end, it doesn’t mean the Rangers were bad, necessarily. We know their offense at evens is one and done, and that’s an area that needs addressing. However the forecheck and neutral zone play was far better in this one. That’s the good process that, hopefully, drives more consistent offense.