Rangers first NHL team to be shut out in first 3 home games - ESPN

NEW YORK — Mika Zibanejad was at a loss for words after he and the New York Rangers made history Tuesday night by becoming the first team in NHL history to get shut out in each of its first three home games of the season.

«I don't know whether to laugh or cry,» Zibanejad said after a 2-0 loss to the Edmonton Oilers. «I honestly don't know.»

The Rangers' 180-minute drought at Madison Square Garden is the second-longest to start a season at home, behind only the now-defunct Pittsburgh Pirates in 1928. They went the first 187:19 without a goal at Duquesne Gardens before Hib Milks scored. The Pirates' streak was longer because of overtime.

The previous longest in the modern era among teams that still exist was 155:17 by the Florida Panthers in 2001.

«This is a unique start to a season,» captain J.T. Miller said. «It sucks that we had a couple games where we feel like we've really thrown a lot at the other team and we're not getting rewarded.»

Artemi Panarin had an early chance all alone in front against Edmonton that was stopped by Stuart Skinner. Will Cuylle also got the puck on net after an Oilers turnover only to be turned aside, and fourth-liners Adam Edstrom and Matt Rempe had quality opportunities on the edge of the crease.

«We can all go home and sleep well knowing we played another good home game,» Miller said. «We're competitors. We want to win. We'd love to see the puck go in the net. Right now, it's not.»

Sam Carrick, who arguably was one of New York's best players, almost scored with 2:31 left, but Skinner flashed his glove to make the save.

None of those shots made it over the goal line, and a couple of other attempts rang off the crossbar and out.

«We have two crossbars that go crossbar or post that goes right