Rangers defeat Oilers, win sixth straight game

NEW YORK -- The New York Rangers won their sixth consecutive game, 4-2 against the Edmonton Oilers at Madison Square Garden on Saturday.

Rick Nash scored two goals, and Henrik Lundqvist made 27 saves for the Rangers (9-7-2), whose winning streak is the longest in the NHL this season. Nash and Pavel Buchnevich scored on the power play in the second period to put New York ahead 3-2.
"We're fast for sure, and I would say simple," Nash said of the Rangers' play during the streak. "We get ourselves in trouble when we don't get pucks deep and then turn it over to the neutral zone. When we keep it simple, that's when it seems we're at our best."
\[WATCH: All Oilers vs. Rangers highlights\]
Buchnevich tied it 2-2 at 15:10 with a power-play goal, a snap shot past Talbot's left side after some crisp passes from Zuccarello and defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk. Zuccarello started the play by skating through the right circle then up along the boards before making a long pass over to Shattenkirk, who sent it back across to Buchnevich.
Nash tipped in a shot from Brady Skjei on the power play for his second goal of the game at 18:53 of the second period to give the Rangers a 3-2 lead. Michael Grabner scored an empty-net goal at 19:58 of the third period.
"We just really competed on forward battles," Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh said. "They've got some size on that team and skill and they were coming up with it a little more during the second period. It was the reason why we couldn't get to our offensive game, but it was great to see our power play come through in the second, and ultimately in the third period we really did a good job."

Jesse Puljujarvi and Connor McDavid scored for the Oilers (6-9-1), who won their previous two games in overtime. Cam Talbot made 30 saves.
"The difference was the two power plays in the second period," Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins said. "Overall, I think we still stuck with it and had our chances but it came down to just the two power-play goals."
Nash gave the Rangers a 1-0 lead at 12:19 of the first period when he scored off a pass through the slot from Kevin Hayes.

The Oilers made it 1-1 at 16:26 when Puljujarvi, recalled Friday from Bakersfield of the American Hockey League, scored from the left circle on a quick wrist shot inside the right post. It was his second goal in 29 NHL games.
McDavid gave the Oilers a 2-1 lead at 10:06 of the second period with his seventh goal of the season, first on the power play.

Goal of the game

Buchnevich's goal at 15:10 of the second period.

Save of the game

Lundqvist's save on Pat Maroon at 5:20 of the first period.

Highlight of the game

Nash's goal at 18:53 of the second period.

They said it

"We should be able to get one of those two penalty kills, in my opinion, and that's probably the difference. They were able to get two quick ones on the power play to set you back, and they do such a great job in the neutral zone of clogging things up, it's hard to come back from behind against them." -- Oilers coach Todd McLellan
"I think it's important we realize that we're happy we have a six-game winning streak but we're still not in a great spot. We had to do this to get back in the race, and I think now we just need to continue to push ourselves. It's going to be a pretty tight race this year if you look around the League. [There are] one or two teams above everyone right now, but it's [going to] be a really tight race, and you have to grab points where you can, and right now we're feeling it, so we have to make the most of it." -- Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist

Need to know

Rangers forward Jimmy Vesey took a skate to the face in the second period during a collision with Oilers forward Zack Kassian. Vesey returned for the third period wearing a full cage. Rangers coach Alain Vigneault said Vesey had two teeth in his lip that needed to be removed. … There was one referee on the ice in the third period, after Justin St. Pierre broke his hand. The game continued with Jon McIssac at referee with linesmen Ryan Daisy and Greg Devorski. … The Rangers have won five straight at home after losing and six of seven after losing five of the first six.

What's next

Oilers: At the Washington Capitals on Sunday (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, SN, TVA Sports, NBCSWA, NHL.TV)
Rangers: At the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday (8 p.m. ET; NBCSN, NHL.TV)