CENOVUS GAME STORY

Under the Scope: Oilers vs. Rangers

An in-depth look at Saturday's 2-0 win over the Rangers on Saturday

Saturday, 22.10.2011 / 11:59 PM / Cenovus Game Story
By Marc Ciampa  - edmontonoilers.com



Ryan Nugent-Hopkins recorded a goal and an assist, while Nikolai Khabibulin stopped 19 shots as the Oilers blanked the Rangers 2-0 Saturday night at Rexall Place.

Khabibulin improves his record to 2-0-2 with the win, as well as establishing league-best numbers with a 0.72 goals-against average and .969 save percentage.

All you need to know and more as we go Under the Scope:


After going scoreless for the opening 30 minutes, Taylor Hall and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins busted into the Rangers zone on a rush. Hall found Nugent-Hopkins in the right circle and he made no mistake, blistering it past Henrik Lundqvist for the goal.
242 Number of consecutive sellouts the Oilers have had at Rexall Place, dating back to November 29, 2005.
37 The number of consecutive starts in goal dating back to last season, including the playoffs, for Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist.
36 The number of days the New York Rangers are on the road, including pre-season, to start the 2011-12 campaign due to renovations at Madison Square Garden. The trip spans 14 games across seven countries: USA, Canada, Slovakia, Czech, Sweden and Switzerland.
4 Number of shots on goal for the Rangers in the first period.
5 The number of goals by Ryan Nugent-Hopkins this season, tied for sixth in the NHL and one shy of third.
 


Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
G A P +/- Shots
1 1 2 +1 2


Nikolai Khabibulin
SA SV GA TOI SV%
19 19 0 60:00 1.000



Taylor Hall
G A P +/- Shots
0 1 1 +1 3



 
RANGERS
Henrik Lundqvist
SA SV GA TOI SV%
24 22 2 48:25 .917
OILERS
Nikolai Khabibulin
SA SV GA TOI SV%
19 19 0 60:00 1.000



 
RANGERS
Dan Girardi - D

27:01 - 0 PTS, E rating
OILERS
Cam Barker - D

21:48 - 2 hits, E rating


With the Oilers up 2-0 in the third period and the Rangers on the power-play, Marian Gaborik snuck in behind the Oilers defence to break in alone on Khabibulin. The Rangers forward tried to go five-hole but the Edmonton netminder shut the door to make the save and keep it a two-goal game.

There may have been some question in the media whether he was going to play or not tonight, but Ryan Nugent-Hopkins eliminated all doubt by scoring the game-winning goal and adding an assist on the insurance marker to extend his team-leading points total to seven.

Corey Potter had spent eight years and four seasons in the New York Rangers organization but only got into eight games total. He got a measure of revenge tonight with a power-play goal against his old squad. He was also on the ice for Edmonton's other goal and +1 on the night with 19:29 of ice time. and three shots on goal.


Heading into tonight's game, the Oilers and Rangers were completely tied in the all-time series with the Rangers holding a 26-26-9-2 record and each team having scored 227 goals.
 


"Listen, this is gonna be really quick. I'm not going to answer questions. We sucked from head to toe and we just need to move by it."

-- An obviously displeased New York Rangers head coach John Tortorella with his brief post-game commentary.




Tuesday, October 25 vs. Minnesota
  7:30pm MDT (SNET-WEST / 630 CHED)


The Oilers continue their homestand on Tuesday with a date against the new-look Vancouver Canucks. Game time is 7:30 p.m. MDT and it can be seen on Sportsnet West.


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