When: Saturday, October 22, 10:00 p.m.

Opponent: @Edmonton (2-2-2)

TV: MSG

UPDATE: Lundqvist will start again in net.  Brendan Bell will make his season debut on defense in place of Jeff Woywitka.  Wojtek Wolski will be a healthy scratch.  (4:37p.m.)

EARLIER: The disappointing season-opening three-game losing streak is behind New York and the end of a brutal seven-game road trip is now in sight.

The Blueshirts picked up wins over the Vancouver Canucks and Calgary Flames this week in dramatic fashion and now must only stop in Edmonton and Winnipeg before returning to the revamped Madison Square Garden next week for a six-game homestand.

New York was tested with some mighty foes to start the year, but if the Rangers play well there’s no reason they can’t return home next week with two more wins.

Edmonton finished dead last in the NHL the last two seasons, but got off to a decent start this year before losing its last two games.

On Thursday night while Ryan McDonagh was scoring a game-winner for the Rangers with just under two seconds left in overtime, Dany Heatley was scoring for the Minnesota Wild to force overtime with the Oilers, where Edmonton eventually fell in the shootout.

The Oilers uncharacteristically ranks third in goals against and seventh on the penalty kill, but those early season stats shouldn’t make anyone mistake Edmonton for a strong defensive club.

The duo of Nikolai Khabibulin and Devan Dubnyk has given up just 10 goals in six games, but those same netminders gave up the second-most goals in the NHL last season.

The Oilers are a rebuilding team led by 2011 first-overall pick Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and 2010 first-overall pick Taylor Hall, but they’re far from being a playoff contender.

The Blueshirts are slowly coming together and if the team can come closer to putting together a 60-minute effort, New York should be able to score some goals on former Coach Tom Renney’s club.

Martin Biron is very likely to make his first start of the season for the Rangers, so the team might focus even more on protecting its defensive zone than usual.

However, Edmonton will have to come up with an answer for the top-line of Derek Stepan/Brad Richards/Marian Gaborik, which has been electric at times over the last week.  Gaborik recorded a hat trick during New York’s 8-2 thrashing of the Oilers last November, so stopping him will be Edmonton’s top priority.

It wouldn’t be surprising if New York has trouble getting revved up for an early-season road game against a weak opponent, but these are two points that the Rangers should be able to snatch up. 

The end of a tumultuous October is in sight and if the Blueshirts continue to build on their momentum, they should be able to pick up their third win in a row.

- Wojtek Wolski could return to the lineup for New York, but Mike Sauer is still a few days away.

- Former Rangers’ prospect Corey Potter will be in the lineup for Edmonton.

2011-2012 season:

Eastern Conference Preview > (10/3/11)

Western Conference Preview > (10/4/11)

Experts Predict Where The Rangers Will Finish > (10/5/11)

NY Rangers Season Preview > (10/5/11)

Rangers Claim Jeff Woywitka Off Waivers > (10/6/11) 

“The King” Vs. The Kings In Season-Opener > (10/7/11)

Penalties Doom Rangers In OT Loss To Kings > (10/7/11)

To Duck Anaheim, Rangers Must Stay Out Of The Box > (10/7/11)

No Offense, But Rangers Pick Up Another Point > (10/8/11)

Tim Erixon Will Stick Around For The Time Being > (10/9/11)

Lessons Learned: Two Games In The Books > (10/10/11)

Time To Move Stepan To First-Line Left Wing > (10/10/11)

Rangers Show Early Improvement With Faceoffs > (10/11/11)

Missing Vinny > (10/13/11)

Rangers Must Find A Way With Patchwork Defense > (10/14/11)

New Top Line Shows Promise, But Rangers Have No Answer For John Tavares > (10/15/11)

Stats To Chew On > (10/17/11)

Zuccarello's Future On Broadway In Doubt > (10/17/11)

Rangers Must Slow The Sedins, Score Some Goals > (10/18/11)

Henrik Lundqvist Beats The Canucks, With A Little Help In The Third Period > (10/19/11)

All Is Not Well In Ranger-land > (10/19/11)

Another Slow Start Might Not Cut It Against Calgary > (10/19/11)

McDonagh Scores Winner With Just Over 1 Second Remaining In OT >(10/20/11)

The Path To New York Is Clearing Quickly For Carl Hagelin And Ryan Bourque > (10/21/11)

Rangers Seek Third Win In A Row Against Renney’s Crew > (10/22/11)

Click here for our full 2011-2012 Season Archive >

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