The Edmonton Oilers offensive outburst in the third period helped them secure a 4-3 win over the New York Rangers.

NEW YORK, NY -- It was a promising start for the New York Rangers, but they weren't able to put together a full 60 minute effort in front of Jonathan Quick. The Edmonton Oilers eventually pulled through and took control of the game in the third period. 

LINEUP: 

Kreider-Zibanejad-Wheeler
Panarin-Trocheck-Lafreniere
Cuylle-Bonino-Brodzinski
Vesey-Goodrow-Pitlick

Lindgren-Fox
Miller-Trouba
Gustafsson-Schneider

Quick

1ST PERIOD:

The first five minutes of this game had some fantastic north-south hockey. The New York Rangers and Edmonton Oilers traded some quality scoring chances early on, but Jonathan Quick and Stuart Skinner stood strong in their respective creases. 

Blake Wheeler scored the games opening goal off of one of the prettiest passes I've seen in a long time. 

I'll let the video do the talking. 

Wheeler's facial expression was absolutely priceless. 

The Rangers finished the first period with a brief opportunity on the man-advantage and a 1-0 lead. 

2ND PERIOD:

It appeared that the Rangers had converted on the power play in the opening minute of the middle frame. Prior to Artemi Panarin putting the puck in an empty net, Skinner's mask had come loose and fallen off, resulting in the play being called dead. 

The play was under review for "continuation", but the call on the ice stood as no goal. 

Rangers head coach, Peter Laviolette commented on this play after the game. He somberly stated "I wish his helmet stayed on his head. I thought he shook it a little bit. It goes right to Bread [Artemi Panarin] on the backdoor and has an opportunity to put it in, and did, and it gets called back." 

Zibanejad got a great look on that same rep, but Skinner made an outstanding save with his blocker. 

Skinner certainly kept his team in the game in the 2nd period. The Rangers had a few strong chances, but couldn't find a way to beat him. 

Quick also came up huge in the second period, making a flurry of saves against the Oilers power play unit. 

The Rangers penalty kill was outstanding late in the frame. Trocheck, Barclay Goodrow, Ryan Lindgren, Jacob Trouba and Quick got a standing ovation from the Garden crowd after they had all put their bodies on the line to kill off the late penalty. 

Quick was phenomenal.

It seemed that the only player that Laviolette was pleased with tonight was Quick. "He [Quick] gave us a chance. In the second period he kept it what it was" Laviolette commented. 

"He was the only reason we were in it to start the third" Trouba added.

The scored stayed 1-0 going into the final 20 minutes of play. 

3RD PERIOD:

The third period did not go the Rangers way at all.

Edmonton scored three goals in a 3:29 span to take a commanding 3-1 lead. All three goals were at 5-on-5. 

To make things worse, Ryan McLeod would add a fourth goal for Edmonton off of a weak Rangers turnover, making the score 4-1. 

The Rangers were able to convert on the power play late to make things interesting. Zibanejad banged home a loose puck in Skinner's crease after some crisp passing by the first unit. 

Will Cuylle added on a late goal in the dying second, but it was too little too late. 

The Oilers would skate away to a 4-3 victory. 

"I thought we were missing energy the entire game", Laviolette said in the postgame. 

The Rangers will get another crack tomorrow at the Buffalo Sabres before the team separates for Christmas break.