EDMONTON \u2014 Western Canada hasn\u2019t been kind to the New York Rangers in the last 12 months, with the latest trip threatening to turn into another nightmare.<\/p>\n
Last year\u2019s Nov. 23 loss at Rogers Place prompted a frustrated Chris Drury to solicit trade offers from the NHL\u2019s other 31 general managers, a miscalculation that blew up in the team president\u2019s face and ultimately tanked the Rangers\u2019 season. But they returned to the scene of the crime on Thursday and exorcised their demons.<\/p>\n
Trailing by two entering the third period, New York rallied for a 4-3 overtime win over the two-time defending Western Conference champion Oilers. J.T. Miller netted the winner on a hard drive to the net 2:49 into the extra frame, giving the Rangers (5-5-2) something to feel good about at the end of an opening month in which very little seemed to go their way.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe needed that to build some confidence, see some pucks go in,\u201d the captain said. \u201cHopefully that can propel us to keep this thing going a little bit more into this road trip. We have a good chance to finish it off the right way.\u201d<\/p>\n
Miller\u2019s big moment came on a night when he bluntly said, \u201cI didn\u2019t have my best.\u201d The same can be said for the other veteran forwards the Rangers rely on drive an offense that\u2019s been largely disappointing, Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad. None of them registered a point until Miller\u2019s OT tally, but it was a group of unlikely contributors who got them there.<\/p>\n
Jonny Brodzinski, Braden Schneider and Taylor Raddysh provided the scoring in the regulation, with the latter two notching third-period goals within 3:46 of each other to fuel the comeback.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s awesome, because I\u2019m certainly not filling the net,\u201d said Miller, who was able to laugh about it after the fact. \u201cYou need guys like that to step up. It\u2019s just part of the gig, and it\u2019s a long season. I know mine are going to go in at some point. I know that Mika would tell you the same thing, or (Panarin). They\u2019re going to go in. We just have to keep playing the right way and try not to let the emotions get the better of us.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nJ.T. IN OT! \ud83d\uddfd<\/p>\n
The @NYRangers<\/a> take this one thanks to a goal from J.T. Miller in @Energizer<\/a> overtime! pic.twitter.com\/HDXMBRZGxW<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 NHL (@NHL) October 31, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Those emotions were brewing after the Rangers tripped all over themselves during a second-period power play. Mike Sullivan addressed it head on at intermission.<\/p>\n
\u201cI could sense that our top people that were on the power play were frustrated,\u201d the coach said. \u201cIt kind of sucked the life out of our team there. We kind of lost our way for the rest of that period. I just talked to them about resetting their mindset. It doesn\u2019t always go your way, and you\u2019ve got to make sure that you dig in and you don\u2019t become your own worst opponent by allowing your frustration to get the best of you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Part of that reset came in the form of shuffling the top-nine forwards. Sullivan decided to stack his top line with Panarin, Miller and Zibanejad, then elevate rookie center Noah Laba to play in between Will Cuylle and Alexis Lafreni\u00e8re. Juuso P\u00e4rssinen moved to the middle on the third line with Conor Sheary and Raddysh.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just felt like our guys needed a spark,\u201d Sullivan said. \u201cWe\u2019ve been talking for a couple of games about loading up one line with our three studs, so to speak. Given the fact that it\u2019s been a little bit of a struggle for them to put the puck in the net, we felt if we put them together, maybe that\u2019ll give them a shot.<\/p>\n
Then he smiled and added, \u201cThe irony of it is, all the other lines scored.\u201d<\/p>\n
Whether it was the line changes, the intermission message or a combination of both, the Rangers followed up a disjointed second period in which they were outshot 14-8 while surrendering goals to Matt Savoie and Darnell Nurse with a third in which they mostly dictated play. They out-attempted the Oilers 22-12 in the third period while generating four high-danger scoring chances and giving up only one, according to Natural Stat Trick. They also got a gut-check effort from their penalty kill following a late Zibanejad high-sticking penalty that bled into the first 1:20 of overtime.<\/p>\n
Most importantly, they played with pace and urgency, showing the necessary fight to keep their season from spiraling down a similar path as last year. There will be no memos tonight.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just knowing that we\u2019ve got that in us, and that we can play like that,\u201d Schneider said. \u201cWe did a great job. I thought they took the second period, but to battle back and come out on top, I think, is massive for morale in the room.\u201d<\/p>\n
Eight more observations<\/p>\n
1. <\/strong>Brodzinski scored the game\u2019s first goal by making a heads-up defensive play to create his own breakaway. The 32-year-old veteran stepped up at the blue line to intercept a cross-ice pass from Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard, then was off to the races. He finished with a backhand for his first goal of the season 5:44 into the game, which should serve as a reminder of why the Rangers value having him on the roster. Not only is Brodzinski one of the most popular players in the locker room, but he\u2019s the ideal 13th forward because he can step into the lineup at a moment\u2019s notice and give you a solid all-around effort. He skates well, defends hard, and rarely makes mistakes. He also has a little offensive juice when given the opportunity, as he showed Thursday.<\/p>\n
\nJonny B. on the breakaway. \ud83d\udc4f pic.twitter.com\/fbk0JbFPsX<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 New York Rangers (@NYRangers) October 31, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
2.<\/strong> Schneider cut the deficit to 3-2 at the 8:18 mark of the third by following a rush that was created by Cuylle winning a neutral-zone puck battle. He took it directly to the net, with Schneider right on time for the rebound. He scored with his parents in the stands, as they made their annual 300-plus mile trip from Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. \u201cIt\u2019s always good to come out with a win here,\u201d said Schneider, smiling. \u201cI\u2019ll be excited to see them after.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nCools with the drive + Schneids cleans it up. pic.twitter.com\/0GindOPbC0<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 New York Rangers (@NYRangers) October 31, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
3.<\/strong> The Rangers team leader in goals? No other than Raddysh, who notched his fifth of the season to tie the score at 3-3 with 7:56 to go in regulation. \u201cThat was a missile,\u201d Sullivan said. \u201cI don\u2019t think we would expect the amount of offensive production from him, but he\u2019s certainly capable.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nRaddysh on the fly! pic.twitter.com\/IiTmo1M4iT<\/a><\/p>\n