VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Regardless of how the Rangers managed to string together a 6-2-2 record through the first 10 games of the season, there is a positive feeling due to their favorable start.
The Rangers, however, will be put to the test in the next three games — in four nights — against the Oilers, Flames and Panthers. And the results should be telling.
“We’re playing real good teams, I think they’ve got a combined two losses [between] the three teams [entering Thursday night],” head coach Gerard Gallant said Thursday after the Rangers practiced at the University of British Columbia’s Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre. “We’ll have to battle hard. And again, we’ve been on the road most of the season and we’ve got a great road record, but haven’t played as good as we want to. The record is pretty good.
“We’ll have to battle hard, Edmonton is going to be a great team with that talent they’ve got. They play fast. The next night you’re playing Calgary, who gave it to us pretty good in our building. We’ve got a good challenge the next two games.”
The Pacific Division-leading Oilers (8-1-0) are up first. On Friday in Edmonton, the Rangers will be tasked with containing the top two point-producing centers in the NHL: Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. The Oilers have lost just once this season and lead the league in goals with 38.
Oh, and Edmonton’s power play is operating at an NHL-high 46.4 percent.
“I think containing is the right word,” defenseman Jacob Trouba said of playing against McDavid and Draisaitl, who are both on the Oilers’ first power-play unit. “I mean, in my experience, they’re going to get their chances. Just try to limit how many chances they get. Obviously, their play speaks for themselves.
“Everybody knows how good they are, the abilities they have. It’s hard to say you’re going to shut down someone with that capability of those guys, so just try to limit their chances and be aware of where they are on the ice.”
Satuday’s opponent, Calgary, is the first repeat opponent for the Rangers. The Flames (6-1-2 entering Thurday) came into Madison Square Garden at the end of last month and hung five goals on goalie Igor Shesterkin. It was easily the ugliest loss of the season for the Rangers — and one filled with mistakes they’re certainly looking to rectify.
Trouba agreed the Rangers are looking to have a strong bounce-back game against the Flames, but wouldn’t say there was added motivation given how the first meeting went. Chris Kreider, meanwhile, wants the Rangers to just take it one game at a time.
“We know they’re a good team, they play very hard,” Kreider said of the Flames. “But at the same time, we’ll talk about Calgary after the Edmonton game.”
The Rangers will wrap up this compacted part of their schedule on Monday at Madison Square Garden against the Panthers (8-0-1 entering Thursday), who were tied for the second-fewest goals against this season with 18. Florida is at the top of the Atlantic Division and took its first loss of the season against the Bruins in overtime on Saturday.
As Gallant pointed out, the Rangers extended their road point streak to six games after earning one in Tuesday’s overtime loss to the Canucks. From the back-to-back matchups with the Oilers and Flames to the quick turnaround to face the Panthers at home, the Rangers are in for a challenge.