EDMONTON, Alberta — Oh, there were fireworks on New Year’s Eve alright.
The Rangers really imploded, and then made a game of it late in the third period. But it was too much to overcome, and they suffered a 7-5 defeat to the Oilers on Tuesday night.
As James Neal registered a hat trick and the Oilers had four power-play goals, all of the Rangers recent talk about defense and puck management blew up in their face. They went on a frenzied rally that cut a 6-5 deficit into a 6-5 with 3:45 to play in regulation, but it just wasn’t enough.