It’s just another year with the same old problems for Connor McDavid in Edmonton.
The five-time Art Ross Trophy winner began the season awry with only 10 points through the first 11 games, but squashed the doubts with nearly two points in the last 16 to propel him back to his customary elite status.
McDavid, Zach Hyman and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins lead any other line in the NHL by a whopping 10 percent margin in expected goals rate.
The three have pumped out a combined 100 points together and account for 37 percent of Edmonton’s goal production.
This has helped translate the Oilers into the No. 1 club in overall expected goals percentage.
While we’re at it, they were the second-best high-danger scoring generators in the league as of Thursday.
So how in the world does Edmonton boast some of the most impressive offensive metrics yet sit outside arm’s reach of a playoff spot? Goaltending.
The Oilers are No. 4 overall in shot attempt differential at five-on-five play yet they allow 3.45 goals against.
Stuart Skinner has taken a vertical dive in his game this year going from an All-Star to carrying an .884 save percentage.
Skinner is the worst in the NHL in goals saved above expected with -12.
The Rangers can capitalize as Mika Zibanejad heads the top line with points in 13 of the last 14 games.
He’s also key in the Rangers’ league-best 31.3 percent power-play conversion, which will challenge a fourth-ranked Oilers unit.
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Igor Shesterkin has regained his footing over his last two starts.
But he has historically struggled against McDavid’s Oilers, allowing four goals each in his two career games while stopping 86.9 percent of shots faced.
Jonathan Quick was in net when the Rangers won 3-0 in Edmonton in October as McDavid sat out.
Friday night should see more pencil lead on the scoresheet as the Oilers head to the Garden off a Thursday night game in New Jersey.
The play: Rangers-Oilers Over 6.5 goals
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