Rangers Make Unwanted History with Home Shutout Losses

In a season that started with high hopes, the New York Rangers have found themselves in an unfortunate record-setting position. Following a disheartening 2-0 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night, the Rangers became the first team in NHL history to commence a season with three consecutive shutout losses at home.

Despite the discouraging result, the matchup against the Oilers is easier to rationalize. The Oilers are widely recognized as one of the league's elite teams, boasting a strong performance following two consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearances. Their goaltending duo, Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard, has only conceded four goals across 67 shots faced in their first three games, showcasing their defensive prowess.

New York's rocky start at Madison Square Garden is particularly surprising given their earlier scoring success on the road. In stark contrast to their home struggles, the Rangers have netted 10 goals in just two games away from home. Their disappointing home opener was against the Pittsburgh Penguins, a team that has allowed 13 goals over three games this season, including six goals to the Rangers in their earlier meeting.

“This is a unique start to a season,” said Rangers captain J.T. Miller after the loss. “It sucks that we had a couple games where we feel like we’ve really thrown a lot at the other team and we’re not getting rewarded.”

The Rangers will attempt to break their streak of home shutouts with their next opportunity set for October 20 against the Minnesota Wild. Until then, the team looks to carry their road success into upcoming games against formidable opponents, the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens.