NEW YORK — The Edmonton Oilers continued to show their strength on the ice with a decisive 3-1 victory over the New York Rangers on Sunday night, March 16, 2025, at Madison Square Garden. This win not only marked their second consecutive victory but also completed the season series sweep against the Rangers.
Viktor Arvidsson delivered the tiebreaking goal early in the third period, putting the Oilers up 2-1. Arvidsson's ninth goal of the season came after he executed a perfect give-and-go with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, demonstrating sharp coordination on the ice. "Bottled up most of the night, Edmonton superstar Connor McDavid scored on his first shot of the night with 3:25 left to extend his own point streak to 11 games," reported Field Level Media.
Corey Perry opened the scoring for Edmonton just 43 seconds after the puck dropped, netting his 15th goal of the season on the power play. He tipped Leon Draisaitl's shot off New York goaltender Igor Shesterkin and managed to convert on the rebound. Draisaitl not only assisted on Perry's goal but also extended his impressive point streak to 18 games, highlighting his key role within the team.
Despite the early momentum for Edmonton, the Rangers didn't back down easily. Will Cuylle leveled the score at 1-1 with his goal early in the second period, sneaking the puck past Oilers' goaltender Stuart Skinner and momentarily shifting the game's momentum. The Rangers needed this win to maintain their playoff aspirations, fighting for one of the last wild-card spots.
Discussing the importance of the win, Stuart Skinner stated, "Very important. The best way for us to finish the road trip I think, especially the way things started." Skinner was solid in net, amassing 21 saves throughout the match and earning praise for his performance, especially during moments when the Rangers tested his defenses.
Arvidsson's goal came at 6:09 of the third period when he wristed the puck past Shesterkin after another setup from Nugent-Hopkins. McDavid then capped the scoring with under four minutes left, sealing the game with another wrist shot—a fitting final mark to his continuing streak.
After the game, Coach expressed pride, noting how teamwork and determination on the ice are coming together. This win improved the Oilers to 39-24-4 overall, which currently places them second within the Pacific Division, only four points behind the leading Vegas Golden Knights.
Meanwhile, for the Rangers, who had snapped their two-game win streak with this loss, it was back to the drawing board. Coach and players highlighted the need for resilience as they continue to chase the final playoff spots within the Eastern Conference.
The game also saw significant contributions from other players, including Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who not only assisted on every goal scored by Edmonton but was pivotal throughout the game. His chemistry with Arvidsson and McDavid has proven to be incredibly effective this season.
Notably, Artemi Panarin also extended his point streak to nine games with his assist on Cuylle's goal, showcasing his continuous influence on the ice. This resulted, with the Rangers stuck with trying to break out of their recent home struggles.
Looking forward, the Oilers will host Utah Hockey Club on Tuesday night, March 18, 2025, for their first home game after coming off the successful road trip. The Rangers, on the other hand, are set to face the Calgary Flames, which adds urgency to their playoff chase.
With both teams experiencing the ebb and flow of the NHL season, this matchup reaffirmed the Oilers' standing as they grow toward playoff readiness, marking what could be the turning point of their campaign.
Arvidsson's tiebreaking goal might just be another highlight for the Oilers this season, emphasizing their capabilities as they march onward to the playoffs.