It’s the start of a five-game road trip for the Oilers, who are 1-0-1 this season, and won three in a row and five of their past six at Madison Square Garden. McDavid had a goal on March 16 when the Oilers defeated the Rangers 3-1, giving him nine goals and 23 points in 15 games against them since he entered the NHL in 2015.

“I think you have to have a heightened awareness when he’s on the ice,” Rangers coach Mike Sullivan said after the morning skate. “The biggest difference that makes Connor so unique is the speed at which he executes plays out there. Anytime we have an opportunity to limit his speed and deny him the opportunity to get the puck in stride.”

McDavid is a unicorn — a combination of size, speed and skill unlike any other player in the NHL today. He has enough individual awards to fill an entire room, although No. 97 and his teammates came up short against the Florida Panthers in each of the past two Stanley Cup Finals.

There are so many ways that McDavid excels on the ice. But one in particular stands out for Sullivan.

“It’s just how fast he can execute plays with the puck, whether it be on the rush or in the zone,” he said. “We’re going to have to have a curtained heightened awareness when he’s on the ice, without a doubt.”

Rangers must shut down Connor McDavid to defeat Oilers

The Rangers need a big night from goaltender Igor Shesterkin, who’s allowed just two goals in his first three starts this season Shesterkin has faced the Oilers just three times in his career, and the results haven’t been pretty – he’s 1-2-0 with a 3.65 goals-against average and a save percentage of just .869. He was the loser in the Oilers’ victory at MSG last March, as well as a 4-3 defeat at the Garden on Nov. 26, 2022, that saw the Rangers blow a 3-0 lead in the third period.

Igor Shesterkin to start the season:

3 Games Played
2 Goals Allowed
1 Shutout
.976 SV%
0.67 GAA

11.5 Million Dollar Man for a reason 🗽 pic.twitter.com/7Rca4Jt2Rp

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) October 12, 2025

The Oilers, especially McDavid and longtime running mate Leon Draisaitl, are known for playing a fast-paced style. Sullivan said there are different kinds of speed, but what makes the Oilers unique is having superstars like McDavid and Draisaitl who think the game as fast as they skate.

“There’s physical foot speed, there’s team speed, your ability to change the point of attack and move the puck, being connected on breakouts, things of that nature. They help your team speed. Then there’s mind speed or intellectual speed, your ability to process the game quickly. Windows of opportunity open and close quickly, so you can anticipate on both sides of the puck to try to take advantage. Speed, in all its forms, for me is a real competitive advantage in today’s game.

Final touches before tonight. pic.twitter.com/H2B3n1jtkx

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) October 14, 2025

“Edmonton, what makes them unique, is that they have a couple of players that not only do they have the physical foot speed that makes them hard to defend against, but they also think the game on a really high level to take advantage or exploit opportunity when it presents itself. That’s what makes them unique.”

Even more unique is when the Oilers use Draisaitl on McDavid’s line, rather than splitting them up. That’s expected to be the case Tuesday.

“They’re dangerous when they’re together,” Sullivan explained. “The downside is that they lose a little bit of balance in their lineup – as an opponent, you can try to key on one line instead of two, whether it be defense pairs, line combinations, whatever it may be. I’m sure their coaching staff is always weighing that decision, just like the rest of us do with our lineups.”

The 22 hopefuls who’ve been on the ice at the MSG Training Center in Tarrytown, New York, will take the ice Friday night in Allentown, Pennsylvania, to face a similar group of Philadelphia Flyers youngsters in the first of two games this weekend. For most of those making the trip, it’s a chance to leave a positive impression before heading back to the minors or their junior teams. But for some players, including 22-year-old defenseman Scott Morrow, it’s an opportunity to show they’re ready for a full-time role on Broadway.

Morrow, the biggest piece of the package that came from the Carolina Hurricanes in the K’Andre Miller trade on July 1, will be playing against the team he rooted for while growing up in Connecticut – the Flyers selected his dad in the 10th round of the 1987 NHL Draft, though Steve Morrow never got past the AHL. “No more Flyers shirts around the house,” he joked when talking with the media Thursday.

The Hurricanes gave Morrow a 14-game callup late last season and used him for five games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs before sending him to New York. “It means a lot to me being from around here and getting a chance to play for the Rangers,” he said. “Thinking about potentially being in Madison Square Garden definitely just gave me that little extra one percent when I’m sucking it up in the workouts and stuff.”

It’s also a big weekend for forward Brennan Othmann, who’s attending his fifth rookie camp. He’s played 25 games with the Rangers, including 22 last season, but is still looking for his first NHL goal. The other player on the ice against the Flyers with NHL experience is forward Gabe Perreault, who was scoreless in five games in April after turning pro following his second season at Boston College.

The full rookie camp roster is here. The vets report next week.

New York Rangers news and analysis

Former Rangers goaltender Alexandar Georgiev has a new home. The Buffalo Sabres signed Georgiev to a one-year contract worth $825,000. The 29-year-old got off to a slow start with the Colorado Avalanche last season and was traded to the San Jose Sharks on Dec. 9. Georgiev has a career 151-108-26 record with a .903 save percentage and 2.99 goals-against average split between the Rangers, Avs and Sharks.

Defenseman Andrej Sustr has joined the Rangers’ training camp roster on a PTO, according to Frank Seravalli. The 34-year-old native of Czechia spent the last three seasons playing in Europe. He’s the 19thc player to sign a PTO and the second with the Rangers, joining longtime Pittsburgh Penguins forward Conor Sheary.

NHL news and rumors

Sportsnet: The NHL and NHLPA have agreed that the five players acquitted in the 2018 sexual assault trial will be suspended until Dec. 1, although they will have the opportunity to sign with NHL teams as soon as Oct. 15. Part of the agreement reportedly is that the players — Michael McLeod, Dillon Dube, Cal Foote, Alex Formenton and Carter Hart — have given up their right to appeal. The players were acquitted of all charges on July 24 after a two-month trial in London, Ontario. McLeod, Dube, Foote and Hart are unrestricted free agents. Formenton is an RFA whose NHL rights belong to the Ottawa Senators, but he signed last week to play for Ambrì-Piotta in the Swiss elite league.

TSN: Edmonton Oilers GM Stan Bowman says the team will continue to be patient as the talk about Connor McDavid’s next contract keeps getting louder. The 28-year-old superstar is entering the final season of an eight-year, $100 million contract and can become an unrestricted free agent next summer. He has yet to commit to a new deal with the Oil. Bowman told TSN’s OverDrive this week that “we’ll be patient, but he knows that we love having him here and want him to remain in Edmonton.” Rest assured that if McDavid becomes a UFA, the Rangers will make a big pitch for him.

NHL.com: Matthew Schaefer, the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, skated with the New York Islanders for the opening of rookie camp Thursday. The defenseman, who turned 18 six days ago, says he’s equipped to prove why he belongs in the lineup when the Islanders open the season at the Pittsburgh Penguins on Oct. 9. The Rangers could see him when they host the Islanders in a preseason game on Sept. 25, and/or in a return meeting at UBS Arena on Sept. 29.

Winnipeg Free Press: There’s probably no one happier to be back on the ice than Jonathan Toews. After two full seasons out of the NHL as he dealt with a number of health issues, the longtime Chicago Blackhawks captain is feeling good again as he skates with his new team, the Winnipeg Jets. The 37-year-old Winnipeg native is moving well and says he’s confident with where his skating and conditioning are at.

The Athletic ($$): John Kelly will serve as the Los Angeles Kings’ lead play-by-play broadcaster on their FanDuel Sports Network telecasts, filling the vacancy created by Nick Nickson’s retirement. The 65-year-old son of legendary NHL broadcaster Dan Kelly most recently served as the longtime play-by-play broadcaster for the St. Louis Blues, but the team and FanDuel decided in July not to renew his contract and ended his long affiliation with the club.

Nor have their teams.

In fact, three of the seven players with the highest average annual value (AAV) contracts in ’25-26 can become UFAs next July 1. One of the three is Artemi Panarin, who has led the New York Rangers in scoring in each of his six seasons since signing a seven-year contract with an AAV of $11.64 million with the Blueshirts on July 1, 2019. Panarin turns 34 on Oct. 30, and Rangers’ general manager Chris Drury has made no move to sign him this summer.

Of course, the biggest name who can become available next summer is Connor McDavid, who will play his 11th season with the Edmonton Oilers since they took him with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 NHL Draft. McDavid was frustrated after the Oilers lost to the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup Final for the second straight season, and he’s made no indication one way or the other whether he wants to stay with the only team he’s ever played for.

Here’s a look at 10 position players who can become free agents next summer and should interest the Rangers if they and their respective teams can’t reach agreement on a new contract (we’ll exclude goalies because the Rangers already have an elite netminder in Igor Shesterkin).

Connor McDavid, C (Edmonton Oilers)

McDavid has made it clear after the Oilers twice came up short in the Final that his objective is to win the Stanley Cup — nothing else matters.

That could be a problem. Edmonton has made no move to improve its goaltending duo after Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard were no match for Florida’s Sergei Bobrovsky in the Final. They’ve already changed goalie coaches but have made no personnel moves, meaning they’re likely to begin the season with the same twosome.

How much money will McDavid want? He’ll make $12.5 million this season and figures to get more on his next contract than fellow Oilers superstar Leon Draisaitl, the NHL’s top-paid player for 2025-26, whose eight-year, $14 million AAV contract begins this season. If No. 97 decides to look elsewhere, the Rangers could be a possibility — they have a two-time Cup-winning coach in Mike Sullivan, a premier goaltender in Shesterkin and a desperate need for a No. 1 center. But the Blueshirts would have a lot of competition.

The Rangers have less than $780,000 in salary cap space available for this season, according to PuckPedia. But if they opt not to keep Panarin, that freed-up money and the $8.5 million jump in the cap for the 2026-27 season would give them more than $30 million in cap space — enough to sign McDavid (or another premium UFA).

Jack Eichel, C (Vegas Golden Knights)

The Boston-area native was taken by the Buffalo Sabres with the No. 2 overall pick in 2015, but Eichel didn’t come into his own until he was traded to the Golden Knights in November 2021. He was instrumental in their Stanley Cup championship in 2023, leading all scorers with 26 points, and is coming off his best offensive season, setting franchise records with 66 assists and 94 points in 77 games.

Injuries have plagued Eichel throughout his 10 NHL seasons. But when he’s healthy, Eichel is an elite playmaking center who can rise to the occasion in big-game moments, especially in the postseason. Teams seeking a first-line scoring center who doesn’t shirk his defensive responsibilities will pursue Eichel if the Golden Knights can’t re-sign him first.

He figures to get a healthy raise from his current $10 million AAV, and the Golden Knights reportedly are trying to lock him up. But if he hits the market, expect the Rangers to be near the front of the line.

Kirill Kaprizov, LW (Minnesota Wild)

“Kirill the Thrill” is the most exciting player in Wild history. He was on target to break his own single-season franchise record for points (108 in 2021-22) last season until injuries cost him all but seven games after Christmas due to injuries. Before he was hurt, Kaprizov was among the NHL leaders in goals and points; he still finished with 25 goals and 56 points in 41 games.

Kaprizov also has 15 goals in 25 playoff games, though the Wild has yet to win a playoff series with him in the lineup.

There’s no reason to expect that, if healthy, the 28-year-old left wing won’t be among the NHL’s elite scorers – and that he’ll get a big bump from his current $9 million AAV. Kaprizov (1.21 points per game) would give the Rangers a younger version of Panarin (1.28 ppg in six seasons in New York); he’s not as good a playmaker but a better goal scorer and more exciting to boot.

Kyle Connor, LW (Winnipeg Jets)

If the Rangers think Panarin is too old and they can’t/won’t go after Kaprizov, they might decide to make a push for Connor, a big reason Winnipeg won the Presidents’ Trophy last season.

Since 2019-20, Connor leads the Jets in goals (217, sixth in the NHL during that period), points (454) and game-winning goals (47). He’s coming off a 41-goal, 97-point season; his assist total (56) and points were career highs.

Connor is entering the final season of a seven-year, $7.1 AAV deal that has turned into a bargain. Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff retained center Mark Scheifele and Vezina Trophy-winning goalie Connor Hellebuyck to team-friendly deals before last season. Connor might be willing to do the same — but if not, expect Drury to be interested.

Adrian Kempe, LW (Los Angeles Kings)

Speaking of bargains … the Kings have one in Kempe, who’s led them in scoring in each of the past two seasons and is entering the final season of a four-year deal with an AAV of $5.5 million.

Since his emergence as a scorer in 2021-22, the 28-year-old leads the Kings in goals (139), game-winners (22) and shorthanded goals (10); he is second in points (269) and plus-minus (plus-55). Kempe was tops on the Kings last season with 73 points and hit the 35-goal mark for the third time in the past four seasons. The only thing he hasn’t been able to do in that span is help them win a playoff round.

According to PuckPedia, the Kings should have more than $37 million in cap space for the 2026-27 season, which would be more than enough to meet Kempe’s recently disclosed asking price of $10 million AAV. Another chunk is likely to go to center Anze Kopitar, who also can become a free agent next summer but is all but certain to be re-signed and end his Hall of Fame career with the Kings – the only team he’s ever played for.

Artemi Panarin, LW (New York Rangers)

Only McDavid, Draisaitl and Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche have more points than Panarin since he arrived in New York ahead of the 2019-20 season.

Panarin has been a First-Team All-Star twice and finished in the top five in Hart Trophy voting twice in his six seasons with the Rangers. His 89 points (37 goals, 52 assists) last season were 27 more than runner-up Mika Zibanejad. But his age could be a factor; he would turn 35 within the first few weeks of a new contract.

If the Rangers, who missed the playoffs last season, don’t return to being a contender, would Panarin want to re-up? And would Drury want to take the risk of signing a player that old rather than spend his money on younger talent – or try to get a big haul at the NHL Trade Deadline in March?

Martin Necas, RW (Colorado Avalanche)

Necas reportedly wasn’t happy with his role as a member of the Carolina Hurricanes before going to Colorado in the Mikko Rantanen trade. His puck skills are considerable and could likely produce a lot more points in the right setup. His scoring rate actually dipped quite a bit after the trade despite the fact he averaged 2:25 more ice time.

There are reports that the 27-year-old wasn’t happy with the way he was being used in Colorado, and with a $6.5 million AAV, he might opt to play out his contract and seek big money ($9 million-plus AAV) in a new deal.

The Rangers have been looking for upgrades at right wing for several seasons. A big season for Necas would surely attract their interest.

Alex Tuch, RW (Buffalo Sabres)

The Stanley Cup Playoffs are a distant memory in Buffalo, where the Sabres haven’t qualified for the postseason since 2010-11. Despite that, Tuch stated publicly after last season that he loves being a Sabre and would be willing to re-sign.

But are the Sabres any closer to ending their NHL-record 14-year playoff drought? The case could be made that they’ve gotten worse, not better, especially after trading forward JJ Peterka to Utah. If the Sabres don’t re-sign the 30-year-old (or he opts not to sign), Tuch would be a hot commodity at the trade deadline as a big-bodied, two-way player who’s scored 36 goals in two of the past three seasons and is entering the last season of a contract with a $4.75 million AAV.

As with Necas, the Rangers would be upgrading themselves on right wing by adding Tuch – if the price were right.

Rasmus Andersson, D (Calgary Flames)

The Flames have been fielding offers for the righty-shooting defenseman for the past few weeks, and there’s no question he would give the Rangers a boost on the blue line. One possible scenario for Drury to think about is a sign-and-trade that would keep him in New York for a while.

Also, Andersson ($4.55 million AAV this season) is coming off a relatively down year. If he has a good season in Calgary, he could fetch a major haul as a rental – unless the Flames are battling for a playoff berth, as they did last season.

He may not be a fit with the Rangers, though, because he’s a right shot, and they already have four righties on the defense corps.

Alex Ovechkin, LW (Washington Capitals)

OK, this is the hockey free agent version of “Fantasy Island.”

But imagine this: The NHL’s all-time goal-scoring leader decides after his 21st NHL season, all with the Capitals, that he wants to try something new. New York has a big Russian community, and he’d be playing in the NHL’s biggest market. Commissioner Gary Bettman and the League’s marketing department would be beside themselves. So would Rangers fans.

And if last season is any indication, Ovechkin can still play – he had 44 goals in 65 games and enters 2025-26 three goals shy of 900 for his career.

Yes, it’s hard to conceive of Ovi finishing his career in New York. But we can dream.

Axe falls @TheGarden for the second time this offseason: Lavi and Thibs pic.twitter.com/xneQDWqNzK

— Forever Blueshirts (@4EverBlueshirts) June 3, 2025

Polar opposite seasons for these two veteran coaches, who each head out the Garden door with a conference final appearance under his belt (Laviolette’s Rangers lost in six games in the 2024 ECF) and still owed plenty of money. In fact, James Dolan owes Thibodeau a reported $30 million for a contract extension that was set to kick in next season.

That, my friends, was a freaking expensive decision Knicks general manager Leon Rose — with Dolan’s blessing — made.

But money is rarely a deciding factor when it comes to firing coaches at The Garden. So, the message to Mike Sullivan is don’t get too comfortable in your new gig with the Rangers, no matter how much GM Chris Drury loves you and has wanted you to coach this team since he was hired four years ago.

Speaking of hellos and goodbyes, and keeping it somewhat MSG related, just want to wish former Rangers forward Jesper Fast all the best after he officially retired from the NHL on Monday. Fast hadn’t played since sustaining a serious neck injury that required surgery in April 2024, and here’s hoping there are no remaining issues for him physically moving forward.

“Quickie” was not only an important under-the-radar player for the Rangers as a middle-six forward, he was a really good dude, fun to be around, with a quiet and subtle sense of humor. I enjoyed getting to know Fast and see him grow on and off the ice into a respected team leader — five times he won the Rangers players player award — who went on to do good things withe the Carolina Hurricanes after his stint on Broadway.

New York Rangers news

Don Lagreca believes “Rangers will be better off when this becomes J.T. Miller’s team” and to cement that, he suggested a blockbuster offseason move.

Breaking down why the Rangers should explore moving Vincent Trocheck to the third line to lengthen the lineup and best exploit their advantage over other teams at the center position.

Tom Castro explores five different trade options for the Rangers if they wish to toughen up their defense corps.

Our Eric Charles continues to take a look at draft prospects the Rangers should consider with the No. 12 overall pick this year. His latest article focuses on a pair of teammates from Sweden: Anton Frondell and Victor Eklund.

NHL news and rumors

Sportsnaut: Here’s a detailed preview and breakdown of the Stanley Cup Final rematch between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers, including predictions from members of our staff.

Sportsnaut: Connor McDavid is “on a mission” to win his first Stanley Cup championship with the Oilers.

Sportsnaut: Breaking down why McDavid is the favorite, though not the only contender, to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP this postseason.

Sportsnaut: The Panthers are looking to cement their legacy with consecutive Stanley Cup championships.

Daily Faceoff: The Oilers say that injured forward Connor Brown is a game-time decision for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final on Wednesday.

TSN: No matter the outcome of the Cup Final, ageless Oilers forward Corey Perry said he will return for his 21st NHL season in 2025-26.

ESPN: Yanni Gourde will not reach unrestricted free agency July 1. He signed a six-year, $14 million contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Daily Faceoff: The Philadelphia Flyers re-signed forward Noah Cates to a four-year, $16 million contract.

TSN: The Vancouver Canucks re-signed defenseman Derk Forbort to a one-year, $2 million contract.

Yahoo Sports: There are some major players left unprotected in the PWHL expansion draft, which will take place Wednesday to begin filling rosters for the new franchises in Vancouver and Seattle.

The Athletic ($$): The PWHL players association voted to publicly disclose player salaries.

“There’s a pie in the sky part of this that I can’t ignore, which is that Connor McDavid doesn’t have a contract with the Edmonton Oilers as of yet, and, frankly, watching an Oilers situation that is not in the best interests of Connor McDavid with the way the playoffs are going right now,” Wyshynski told Forever Blueshirts on the RINK RAP podcast this week.

“I mention that because you have to mention it. Until he puts pen to paper, there’s every possibility that Connor McDavid could hit the open market. And if that’d ever happen, I truly believe that the Rangers would be one of the teams he’d look at.”

Let’s start with the obvious. McDavid is already one of the greatest and most exciting players to lace up the skates in NHL history. He’s notched 100+ points in eight of his 10 seasons in the League, led the NHL in scoring five times and won the Hart Trophy as League MVP three times. He’s averaging 1.52 points per game in his career — 1,082 points in 712 games.

McDavid can become an unrestricted free agent for the first time after next season. He’s also eligible to sign a (massive) contract extension with the Oilers after July 1. That’s what his talented teammate Leon Draisaitl did ahead of his walk season this past September.

The Oilers locked Draisaitl up for eight years and $112 million ($14 million average annual value). They will surpass that — $16 million AAV? $17+ million? — to keep McDavid. There’s not anyone in the sport who believes the Oilers won’t go to any length to re-sign McDavid.

“He’s the most important player we have here, so that is priority number one,” Oilers general manager Stan Bowman said recently. “We’ll get to that this summer. Now’s probably not the time to be talking about that, but we all know Connor is going to be here and that we’re going to make it happen.”

But what does McDavid want? He wants to win, that’s for sure. And it sure doesn’t feel like the Oilers are going to win the Stanley Cup any time soon with Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard sharing goaltending duties. That’s even after the Oilers, with McDavid winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP, pushed the Florida Panthers to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final last spring.

The Rangers, you may heard, have Igor Shesterkin locked up as their No. 1 goalie for the next eight seasons. You think James Dolan, Chris Drury and a rabid fan base that last saw their team win the Cup in 1994 wouldn’t sign up to have, arguably, the best goalie in the world and best player in the world on the same roster, regardless of how much it costs?

Keep in mind that the salary cap rises to $104 million in 2026-27 from $95 million next season. And Artemi Panarin’s $11.64 million cap hit comes off the books in the 2026 offseason. There’s a good chance Mika Zibanejad and/or Chris Kreider are pressured into waiving their no-trade/move clauses by then and will be off the ledger.

“He certainly does (come off the books). But they’ll shoot [Alexis] Lafreniere into the sun to open up salary-cap space to sign McDavid. They’ll find a way to make it happen,” Wyshynski said with a laugh.

Related: Rangers owner sends ‘shot across the bow at locker room’ by extending GM Chris Drury: ESPN insider believes

After Rangers take care of most pressing issues this offseason ‘there’s other things to consider too’

Now, let’s be honest, if you’re Drury, you can’t be counting on landing McDavid in 2026. You need to go about your business this offseason and if it becomes a real possibility down the road, do everything you can to make it happen.

But Wyshynski does raise another intriguing angle, since the Rangers need to hire a new coach this offseason. The Rangers really should vet and interview Jay Woodcroft, the former Oilers coach. And if the Rangers believe he’s equal with other top candidates — or better, of course — that’s not a bad thing, when considering McDavid.

“If you really wanted to get conspiratorial about it, if the Rangers hire Jay Woodcroft, who’s a guy that Connor really loved as a coach in Edmonton, that’d be interesting. That’s a bread crumb, if we’re being honest,” Wyshynski said. “I’d be intrigued by the possibility of that ever happening. I’ve thrown this out there before. Edmonton gets very angry when I do.”

The reality of their immediate situation is that the Rangers need to remake their core while maintaining a high level of skill on the roster. That’s what makes, say, Sam Bennett a very intriguing free-agent option this summer. Drury has much work to do to adjust the roster and maneuver his way around limited salary cap space.

So, there needs to be a laser focus on the here and now, with an eye on the future.

“In the short term, the obvious answer is they’re going to try to make this team into the mode of a J.T. Miller type as far as what they want out of their core,” Wyshynski stated. “I think Bennett is an intriguing possibility to that end. And then big picture, pie in the sky, there’s other things to consider too.”

WATCH the entire RINK RAP interview with Greg Wyshynski at the Forever Blueshirts YouTube page.

Or you can LISTEN TO RINK RAP HERE, or wherever you enjoy your podcasts.

The Rangers (33-29-6) had won two straight coming in, including that 4-0 victory in Columbus that vaulted them into the second wild card in the Eastern Conference. But yet again, the Rangers were unable to win a third consecutive game. They haven’t won three in a row since Nov. 14-19.

That’s not to say they didn’t play well Sunday, because they did. It was their fourth straight solid defensive showing after allowing seven goals in a loss at MSG to the Blue Jackets last Sunday. They limited the Oilers to 23 shots on goal and held superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl to one point apiece.

But that was enough for the Oilers (39-24-4), who finished a four-game road trip with a 2-2-0 record by beating the New York Islanders and the Rangers — allowing one goal in each game.

Stuart Skinner was excellent in goal for Edmonton, stopping 21 of 22 shots. He bested Igor Shesterkin, who started on consecutive days for only the fifth time in his NHL career, falling to 4-1-0 in such games. He made 20 saves one night after shutting out the Blue Jackets.

McDavid, Corey Perry and Victor Arvidsson scored for the Oilers, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins assisted on all three goals. Draisaitl extended his point streak to 18 games, longest in the NHL this season, with a first-period assist. McDavid pushed his point streak to 11 games with a third-period goal.

Will Cuylle scored his first goal in seven games for the Rangers. Artemi Panari extended his point streak to nine games with an assist. Vincent Trocheck also assisted on Cuylle’s goal.

Related: Familiar injury concerns for former Rangers center Filip Chytil after latest scary incident

Edmonton Oilers 3 – New York Rangers 1

For all the star talent on the ice for both teams Sunday, it was a pair of greasy goals that had this game tied 1-1 after two periods of play. That’s not to say the stars weren’t generating fancy scoring chances, but in a pretty tight defensive game, the goal scoring came from the blue paint for each team.

The Oilers had the only goal of the first period, when Perry scored from his knees on the power play during a scramble by Shesterkin’s crease with 43.1 seconds remaining. It was a great effort by the rugged veteran forward, who scored his 15th goal of the season when his backhand shot tipped off Shesterkin’s glove and into the net.

Corey Perry opens the scoring with less than a minute left to go in the first period 🚨 pic.twitter.com/6H0YJmeNqF

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 16, 2025

Edmonton outshot New York 12-7 in the first period, including a partial break by Jeff Skinner at 18:40, when he split the defense and forced Shesterkin to make a big-time stop.

The Rangers also had some good looks in the opening period. Alexis Lafreniere found Mika Zibanejad for an in-tight one-timer with a beauty of a pass at 8:33 that was stopped by Skinner. Then at 15:28, Zibanejad played facilitator, hitting Adam Fox in full stride flying down right wing for a Grade A look that Skinner denied.

That doesn’t even include J.T. Miller ripping a right-wing shot off the post on the power play less than two minutes into the game.

In the second period, the Rangers did an excellent job shutting down the Oilers, who entered the game with a League-high 85 goals in the second period. But the Rangers held them without a goal and only allowed six shots on goal in the period, including a point-blank look by Connor Brown that was swallowed up by Shesterkin at 10:50.

By that point, the Rangers had already tied the game. Cuylle won a goalmouth battle to tap a loose puck over the goal line for his 18th goal at the five-minute mark to make it 1-1. Panarin and Trocheck assisted on the goal, which began with a 4-on-3 odd-man rush into the zone by New York.

COOLS STUCK WITH IT. pic.twitter.com/lFKOXRRrTW

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) March 17, 2025

Matt Rempe came close to giving the Rangers their first lead shortly after Cuylle’s goal. Rempe got his skate in the way of an Oilers pass in the defensive zone, then led a rush up ice that included the 6-foot-9 forward speeding between the defensemen for a partial break-in. His forehand shot was stopped by Skinner, denying Rempe a highlight-reel goal.

New York’s bottom-six had another great scoring chance at 12:48 when Jonny Brodzinski, the trailer on a 3-on-2, took a pass from Braden Schneider, but his backhand shot was snuffed out by Skinner. Brodzinski drew a penalty on the play, but the Rangers couldn’t connect on their power-play opportunity. The Rangers were 0-for-3 on the power play Sunday.

So good defensively all night, the Rangers got burned by a rare odd-man rush from the Oilers early in the third period to again fall behind. Arvidsson played give and go with Nugent-Hopkins on a 3-on-2, and his right-wing shot deflected just enough off the stick of Zac Zones to go up and over the glove of Shesterkin to put the Oilers back in front 2-1 at 6:09.

The Rangers then picked up their offensive game after falling behind, putting consistent pressure on the Oilers. J.T. Miller and Alexis Lafreniere each had excellent chances off deflections on the same shift after the eight-minute mark. Right before that, Skinner somehow kept the puck out of the net after an Urho Vaakanainen point shot nestled into the goalie’s pads and Brett Berard and Chris Kreider pushed forward trying to poke it over the goal line.

They came within inches of scoring on the power play midway through the third period during a wild scramble in front of Skinner’s net that began with an open look for Fox. Somehow Skinner got his left arm out in time while falling to the ice to rob Zibanejad on a rebound attempt.

Skinner’s timely saves set the stage for McDavid to bury the Rangers with his 25th goal at 16:35. A terrific individual effort was capped by a wicked snap shot from left wing that beat Shesterkin to the glove side. It was McDavid’s only shot on goal during the game.

CONNOR MCDAVID'S 25TH OF THE SEASON DOUBLES THE OILERS' LEAD 💪

He extends his point streak to 11 games 👀 pic.twitter.com/fWahC7coH9

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 17, 2025

With the 3-1 loss, the Rangers failed to create more distance between them and the ninth-place Montreal Canadiens, who are one point behind them, and the Blue Jackets and Detroit Red Wings, each of whom is two points in arrears. Montreal and Columbus each have two games in hand on New York; Detroit has one.

After a day off Monday, the Rangers are back at it Tuesday, when they host the Calgary Flames at MSG.

The Rangers (33-28-6) skated out of Columbus with an impressive 4-0 victory over the Blue Jackets on Saturday for their second straight win to secure a winning road trip (2-1-0). In the process, they leapfrogged the Blue Jackets and moved into the second wild card in the Eastern Conference. They’re now one point up on the Montreal Canadiens and two ahead of the Blue Jackets, though both teams have a game in hand on New York.

It was a terrific defensive effort by the Rangers, who allowed only 21 shots on goal and picked up their eighth shutout of the season. This after they were hammered by the Blue Jackets 7-3 at MSG last Sunday showed excellent resiliency by the Blueshirts.

See you back at home, #NYR family. pic.twitter.com/wToXLJZKR6

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) March 16, 2025

Alexis Lafreniere scored his first goal in 15 games, Vincent Trocheck scored twice and Artemi Panarin had a clutch goal that made it 2-0 midway through the second period. With Adam Fox back in the lineup after an eight-game injury absence, there was plenty of good for the Rangers on Saturday night.

Now, they must regroup quickly to face an Oilers team that’s waiting for them. The Oilers defeated the Islanders 2-1 in overtime at UBS Arena on Friday and has been in the tri-state area since Tuesday, including a 3-2 loss to the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday.

Like the Rangers, the Oilers (38-24-4) have a lot to play for down the stretch. They are third in the Pacific Division, though just one point behind the second-place Los Angeles Kings. It hasn’t been an easy run for the Oilers after they lost Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final to the Florida Panthers last spring. They’ve lost eight of 12 games (4-8-0) since Feb. 7 and struggled offensively, even with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl producing at their typical pace.

This is the second and final meeting in the season series. The Oilers hammered the Rangers 6-2 at Rogers Place on Nov. 23.

Related: 3 Rangers takeaways after clutch 4-0 road win against Blue Jackets

3 things to watch for when Rangers host Oilers

1. More Igor

Rangers coach Peter Laviolette wasn’t saying postgame Saturday, but there’s a chance Igor Shesterkin starts on consecutive days for only the fifth time in his NHL career. It should be noted that Shesterkin is 4-0-0 in those previous four instances, two of which came after he played a full game the day before and two when he was pulled from a contest the previous day.

This is no knock on backup Jonathan Quick, but the Rangers are in a spot where they need every possible standings point and Shesterkin is their clearcut best option at the position. He was solid again Saturday, stopping all 21 shots for his fifth shutout of the season. And it’s not like he was overworked Saturday nor this season, starting 49 of their 67 games.

Big=time game. Big-time opponent. Big time of the season. Seems like it’s the moment to ride your big-time goalie.

UPDATE 4:45 pm: Igor Shesterkin will start Sunday night against the Oilers

2. Containing Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl

You probably haven’t heard this one before, right? To defeat the Oilers, you need to contain McDavid and Draisaitl. Shocker, we know.

But it’s the truth. Even though that pair of superstar forwards continues to produce at a serious rate, the Oilers are struggling mightily to score enough goals to win games. They’ve scored two goals in three straight games and four of six. They’ve scored three or under in 10 of their past 11. Despite the star play of McDavid and Draisaitl, the Oilers have been incapable of piling up the goals.

That said, these guys are on a tear. Draisailt scored both goals, including the OT game-winner, against the Islanders and is on a 17-game point streak, tied for longest in the NHL this season. He leads the NHL with 49 goals and is second with 100 points, two behind Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche. It is the sixth 100-point season in Draisaitl’s career.

McDavid, currently with points in 10 straight games, is not exactly a slouch this season either. He’s fourth in League scoring (85 points) and third with 61 assists.

3. Vincent Trocheck getting hot with Artemi Panarin

Panarin’s been on a roll for a bit now, with an eight-game point streak (six goals, six assists). He added two more points to that total Saturday, with a goal and assist, and sits at 71 points, his fifth season with at least 70 points for the Rangers, tied with Mark Messier and Mika Zibanejad for fifth most in Rangers history.

Make that an eight-game point streak for Artemi Panarin! 🥖 pic.twitter.com/mCHBdhBhtI

— NHL (@NHL) March 16, 2025

Now his linemate is joining the party. Trocheck has three goals in the past two games, including a pair Saturday that featured a short-handed empty-netter in the third period which iced the victory. Trocheck now has 20 goals for the third straight season with the Rangers and seventh time in his NHL career. He’s second on the Rangers in goals, behind Panarin (29) and fourth in points with 45.

New York Rangers projected lineup

Panarin – Trocheck – Cuylle

Lafreniere – J.T. Miller- Zibanejad

Kreider – Carrick – Berard

Othmann – Brodzinski – Rempe

Vaakanainen – Fox

K. Miller – Borgen

Jones – Schneider

Shesterkin

Quick

Rangers vs. Oilers: When, where, what time, how to watch

Who: New York Rangers vs. Edmonton Oilers

When: Sunday, March 16 at 7:00 p.m. ET

Where: Madison Square Garden

How to watch: MSG

After tinkering around the edges before the deadline on Friday by trading forward Reilly Smith to the Vegas Golden Knights and adding defenseman Carson Soucy from the Vancouver Canucks, the Rangers missed their chance to take over a wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with back-to-back losses against the two teams directly ahead of them in the standings.

They had to settle for one point when a 3-1 third-period lead turned into a 4-3 OT road loss to the Ottawa Senators on Saturday, then got blown out 7-3 at home on Sunday by the Columbus Blue Jackets. The results left the Rangers heading into the first of back-to-back four-game weeks in ninth place, one point behind the Senators and two in back of the Blue Jackets, holders of the two wild cards. The Blue Jackets have a game in hand on the Rangers; the Senators have two.

After winning just twice during a stretch that saw them play five of six games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers face a nasty three-game trip that begins against the Western Conference-leading Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday and continues with a visit to the Minnesota Wild on Thursday. But the key game comes Saturday, when the Rangers head to Columbus for a rematch against the Blue Jackets.

Even tougher is the fact that the Rangers have to fly back to New York for a Sunday night date with Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and the Edmonton Oilers, who demolished New York 6-2 on Nov. 23.

We should have a much better idea of the Rangers’ playoff hopes a week from today. This is a week the Rangers can’t afford to be at anything but their best.

Who’s hot

Artemi Panarin has rediscovered his scoring touch. The Rangers’ top scorer (67 points in 62 games) has goals in each of New York’s five games in March, giving him 28 for the season. He’s two away from his fifth season (third with the Rangers) with at least 30 goals and his his five-game goal streak ties his NHL career high.

Who’s not

Igor Shesterkin was in goal for two overtime losses last week that saw the Rangers cough up third-period leads each time – a 2-1 edge against the Washington Capitals at the Garden on Wednesday turned into a 3-2 OT loss, and the Senators came from two goals down in the final 10 minutes of regulation before Shesterkin was beaten by Brady Tkachuk 33 seconds into overtime. His 21 regulation losses and 25 defeats (including four in overtime) are already career worsts.

Rangers lookahead this week includes …

Games 3, 4, 5 and 6 in a 15-day stretch that will see the Rangers play nine times.

Rangers at Winnipeg Jets (March 10, 8 p.m. ET; MSG)

There are easier ways to start a road trip than facing the top team in the Western Conference, albeit one that’s coming off a split of its four-game swing through the East, which ended with a 4-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday.

The Jets have been first or second in the overall standings all season, riding the combination of Connor Hellebuyck’s goaltending (37-8-3, 1.99 goals-against average, .927 save percentage, six shutouts), a deep, balanced offense (five players with at least 50 points) and the League’s best power play (31.6 percent).

Winnipeg won 6-3 at the Garden on Nov. 12, setting an NHL record by winning 15 of its first 16 games. Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele, the Jets’ two 30-goal scorers, each had two against Shesterkin, who is 4-3-0 in his career against Winnipeg but with a 2.32 GAA and .932 save percentage.

Rangers at Minnesota Wild (March 12, 8 p.m.; MSG)

Minnesota is the only team that the Rangers haven’t seen yet; the Wild don’t come to the Garden until April 2. Minnesota is two different teams – a lousy 14-14-1 at home after a 3-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday in the opener of a seven-game homestand, but a fabulous 22-10-3 away from Xcel Energy Center.

The Rangers are catching the Wild when they’re beat up. Star left wing Kirill Kaprizov and center Joel Eriksson Ek are both out with injuries, a big reason Minnesota has dropped behind the Colorado Avalanche for third place in the Central Division. Minnesota trails Colorado by two points but still holds the first wild card in the Western Conference.

New York is 19-14-1 in its all-time series against the Wild, with each team winning five times in the past 10 games. Interestingly, neither team has ever shut out the other since Minnesota entered the NHL for the 2000-01 season.

Shesterkin has played just three times against the Wild in his career, and is 2-1-0 with a 2.95 goals-against average and .912 save percentage. If Marc-Andre Fleury is in goal for the Wild, he’ll be going for his 35th career win against the Rangers.

Rangers at Columbus Blue Jackets (March 15, 7 p.m. MSG)

Every game is a big game for the Rangers now, but this one might be the biggest. The Rangers will be looking to avenge their embarrassing loss to the Blue Jackets and win for the third time in four games against Columbus this season.

Even with the loss, the Rangers have won seven of their past 10 games against the Blue Jackets, including a 4-3 victory in their first visit to Nationwide Arena on Feb. 8.

Panarin, who played two seasons with the Blue Jackets early in his career, scored his 14th goal in 21 career games against Columbus in the loss Sunday.

Edmonton Oilers at Rangers (March 16, 7 p.m. ET; MSG)

Connor McDavid & Co. wrap up a four-game swing through the East – the last three in the New York area — with their lone visit to MSG this season.

McDavid has 22 points (eight goals, 14 assists) in 14 career games against the Rangers — including two goals and assist in the win in Edmonton that began New York’s year-ending 4-15-0 slide that knocked the Rangers out of a playoff berth.

NHL goal-scoring leader Leon Draisaitl is better than a point-a-game player against the Rangers (20 points; eight goals, 12 assists in 19 games). He had a goal and an assist in the early-season win.

Shesterkin has split two career decisions against the Oilers, allowing eight goals. Jonathan Quick, who could get the start in the second of back-to-back games, took the loss in Edmonton in November but is 25-13-6 against the Oilers with a 2.27 GAA and .918 save percentage.

Of course, there can only be one winner, and that’s Canada, still the team to beat in best-on-best international play. And it was Connor McDavid with his signature moment on the big stage that capped a simply terrific night for the sport when he scored 8:18 into overtime, lifting Canada to a thrilling 3-2 victory.

The tournament was amazing theater filled with great hockey by the best players in the world. It’s a tasty appetizer for the NHL as the League prepares to participate in the 2026 Milan Olympics.

Now, it’s time to turn the page. Quickly. And get back to the stretch run of the NHL season, where there’s a pretty wild chase for the final two playoff spots in the Eastern Conference. The New York Rangers know all about that, sitting 11th in the East, three points out of the second wild card.

But there’s a stiff price to be paid from the 4 Nations Face-Off.

That playoff race could be somewhat compromised, as could the long-term chances for serious Stanley Cup contenders. Emily Kaplan of ESPN reported Thursday night that there were many players grinding through the 4 Nations Final with injuries that could keep them out of the lineup with their respective NHL teams moving forward.

We already know about Matthew Tkachuk, who was unable to finish the championship game with an unspecified injury. Auston Matthews was playing through an upper-body injury. Brady Tkachuk had a lower-body issue. Then there’s Charlie McAvoy, who’s possibly out the rest of the season following a shoulder injury and subsequent surgery for an infection. Shea Theodore is week to week after he was hurt in the first game of the tournament.

How about Vincent Trocheck of the Rangers? He appeared to injure his hand/wrist in the 2-1 loss to Sweden on Monday. Trocheck played against Canada but was largely ineffective. The tell-tale sign could be that he only took four face-offs — his specialty — and lost each one Thursday. He logged just 10 minutes of ice time.

Let’s see where it all settles when the four Rangers from Team USA rejoin their NHL teammates in Buffalo. The Rangers resume their season Saturday in Buffalo against the Sabres with a quick follow Sunday in Pittsburgh against the Penguins.

As coach Peter Laviolette said Thursday, “It comes at you fast.” Twenty-seven games may sound like a lot, but they’ll be gone before you know it — and the Rangers hope to be among the eight teams still standing in the East when the Stanley Cup Playoffs begin in April.

Subscribe to the Rink Rap podcast at the Forever Blueshirts YouTube page

New York Rangers news

After the morning skate Thursday, President Trump spoke with Team USA and wished them well in their game against Canada. Rangers forward J.T. Miller was among those thrilled to hear from the President of the United States.

Rangers defenseman Adam Fox said prior to the game that the 4 Nations Face-Off championship contest was “the biggest game I’ve been a part of.”

Back in New York, Igor Shesterkin participated in an entire practice and should be good to go for the Rangers this weekend after sustaining an upper-body injury Feb. 7.

The Rink Rap podcast is posted with this week’s special guest, former Rangers general manager Neil Smith. You can watch the entire interview on YouTube or listen to the audio here.

NHL news

Nathan MacKinnon opened the scoring for Canada in the 4 Nations Face-Off championship game and was named MVP of the tournament after pacing all skaters with four goals in four games.

There could have been a different result in that 4 Nations final if not for the brilliant play of Canada goalie Jordan Binnington, who made three sensational saves against Matthews and one on Brady Tkachuk in overtime, when he stopped all six shots he faced before McDavid’s heroics.

Canada forward Brad Marchand, one of the all-time pests in NHL history, called out the Tkachuk brothers postgame for shooting their mouths off to the media prior to the championship clash — “they got a little bit ahead of themselves.”

The Calgary Flames placed defenseman Tyson Barrie on waivers.

Max Pacioretty is likely out this weekend for the Toronto Maple Leafs after tweaking something in practice Wednesday.

Mikko Rantanen just may be the most attractive player available on the free-agent market this offseason. Here’s a breakdown from the former Carolina Hurricanes capologist as to what his next deal could look like.

Frank Seravalli reports that teams aren’t breaking down the Chicago Blackhawks door to trade for expensive defenseman Seth Jones, despite Chicago’s desire to move him.

With Ryan Pulock set to return from injury this weekend, the Islanders placed defenseman Dennis Cholowski on waivers.

The loss denied the U.S. its first best-on-best international title since Mike Richter of the New York Rangers led them past Canada in the 1996 World Cup of Hockey. It also mirrored the outcome of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, when the U.S. defeated Canada in preliminary-round play, only to lose the gold medal game 3-2 to Canada on Sidney Crosby’s overtime goal.

The game-winning sequence began when McDavid won an offensive-zone face-off in the left circle and quickly wristed a shot wide of the net. Cale Makar collected the puck on right wing and sent the puck around the boards to Mitchell Marner on left wing. Rangers defenseman Adam Fox was late getting to Marner, Auston Matthews strayed out of position, and no one picked up McDavid, wide open in the slot. Marner found him with a pass, and McDavid wired the OT winner into the top of the net over the glove of goalie Connor Hellebuyck, quieting the partisan United States crowd.

THERE IT IS! THE GAME WINNER! THE TOURNAMENT WINNER! 😱😱😱

CONNOR MCDAVID HAS WON IT FOR CANADA!!! #4Nations pic.twitter.com/nDneA2e26K

— NHL (@NHL) February 21, 2025

All four Rangers on the Team USA roster dressed for the championship game, including Chris Kreider who was a healthy scratch the first two games in this tournament. Kreider had the lowest ice time of any player Thursday, logging just 6:25 TOI, though he was credited with three hits.

Fox was held pointless for the fourth straight game and was on ice for the tying and winning goals. J.T. Miller had a strong game, but like Fox, didn’t record a point in the tournament. Miller logged 19:34 TOI on Thursday, won seven of 10 face-offs and had three hits. Vincent Trocheck lost all four of his face-offs and played just 10:03 amid concerns that he might have sustained a hand or wrist injury Monday in a 2-1 loss to Sweden.

The United States played most of the game without star forward Matthew Tkachuk, who remained on the bench but did not take a shift from late in the second period until the end of the game due to an unspecified injury.

Brady Tkachuk and Jake Sanderson scored for the U.S., and Hellebuyck made 24 saves.

Nathan MacKinnon scored his fourth goal of the 4 Nations and Sam Bennett netted the tying goal for Canada. Jordan Binnington was outstanding in net, finishing with 31 saves, including six in overtime.

Related: J.T. Miller delighted President Trump called Team USA before championship game against Canada

Canada 3 – United States 2 (OT)

Chants of “USA! USA!” bellowed through TD Garden a good 45 minutes before warmups. And the fans were at a fever pitch by time Wayne Gretzky (Canada) and Mike Eruzione (United States) were introduced as the game’s honorary captains. There was mild booing of the Canadian national anthem and a rousing sing-a-long of “The Star Spangled Banner.”

Then it was finally time for hockey. And these teams didn’t disappoint. Instead, they lived up to the massive hype, and probably surpassed with a heart-stopping 68 minutes of back and forth hockey.

Despite an early push by Team USA, it was Canada that scored first. MacKinnon took a feed from defenseman Thomas Harley in the offensive zone, floated to his right and mid-motion wired a shot through a maze of players that beat Hellebuyck above the blocker to make it 1-0 at 4:48 of the first period.

NATHAN MACKINNON OPENS THE SCORING! 🚨 #4Nations

🇺🇸: @espn & @ESPNPlus ➡️ https://t.co/S5tPrXCygm
🇨🇦: @Sportsnet or stream on Sportsnet+ ➡️ https://t.co/4KjbdjVctF pic.twitter.com/c2Mae8GUoF

— NHL (@NHL) February 21, 2025

Hellebuyck was strong the rest of the period after surrendering the first goal. He was especially good when Canada went hard to the net trying to jam shots home from in tight, including a pair of Seth Jarvis attempts early on and then tight pad stops on Bennett and Brad Marchand at 13:46.

Kreider was on ice for each of those shifts.

The United States tied it at 16:52 when Brady Tkachuk skated into the low slot and chipped a Matthews pass just past Binnington’s blocker for his third goal of the tournament. Two minutes later, Tkachuk kept the building rocking when he smoked Harley into the end boards with a massive hit.

The physical play went both ways. Fox was leveled to the ice on a Bennett check at 5:45; and Sidney Crosby was buried trying to get to a rebound by U.S. defenseman Brock Faber.

Canada had an 11-10 shots advantage in the first period. Team USA flipped it in the second, up 9-8 in shots.

Sanderson buried a rebound at 7:32 of the second to give the United States a 2-1 lead. Zach Werenski fired a long shot off Binnington’s pads, and Matthews’ rebound try was blocked by the stick of Colton Parayko. The puck caromed into the slot and Sanderson made no mistake, scoring his first goal of the tournament.

JAKE SANDERSON, THE KID PUTS THE USA IN THE LEAD 🇺🇸🤯 pic.twitter.com/NYt0QV1eE0

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) February 21, 2025

Trocheck took the game’s first penalty, a tripping minor in the offensive zone, at 8:57. Canada pressed but the U.S. killed off the penalty. Before doing so, Miller set up Dylan Larkin for a right-wing blast off a 2-on-1 short-handed rush at 10:43.

It remained 2-1 at the 12-minute mark because U.S. defenseman Jaccob Slavin tied up Crosby in front and then quickly swatted a loose puck away in the slot just as Crosby was going to poke it into the open net.

But two minutes later Canada was not to be denied. Bennett beat Hellebuyck with a short-side snipe past the blocker to tie the game 2-2 at 14:00. Marner created space by skating down the middle before dishing to Bennett on left wing and the rugged center finished for his first goal at the 4 Nations Face-Off.

SAM BENNETT TIES THE GAME FOR CANADA 🇨🇦

WHAT A HOCKEY GAME 🤯 pic.twitter.com/XZanqO2LTB

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) February 21, 2025

It remained tied less than two minutes later because Fox made an adept block on McDavid’s shot off a 3-on-2 rush by Canada. Right afterward, Kreider crushed Jarvis with a big hit. Brady Tkachuk put a bow on the second period when he smoked Drew Doughty with another huge hit at 17:20.

Tied 2-2, the intensity ratcheted up in the third period, with some excellent chances at each end of the ice. Canada just missed taking the lead when a bouncing puck hit the post, and the United States had a string of chances, including at least three by Jake Guentzel.

MacKinnon nearly won it for Canada with 1:29 to play in regulation, taking a long pass from Devon Toews on left wing, bursting into the U.S. zone and hammering a left-wing shot off the rush that was stopped by Hellebuyck.

With under a minute to go, Miller made a brilliant play when he hustled back to his own net to pick off a cross-crease pass by Marner, who was looking for McDavid at the far post.

Team USA nearly won the game just 2:54 into overtime when Matthews powered to the net and had his one-timer denied by Binnington’s blocker. At 4:30, Binnington robbed Matthews again off the rush and dove to his left to stone Brady Tkachuk with a quick glove on a rebound try.

Binnington made a terrific glove save on Matthews from the slot a bit later. And shortly thereafter McDavid ended this fiercely competed midseason international tournament with his third goal in four games.