The Bruins Skated Circles Around The Already Checked Out Rangers, Beating Them 4-0

 

    After back-to-back bloodbaths with the Capitals (34-14-5) earlier this week, the Rangers (26-23-6) limped into the TD Garden tonight and promptly dropped their fifth straight game, 4-0. The Bruins (32-14-7) are playing some of their best hockey of the season and rookie goaltender Jeremy Swayman (15 saves, 7-2-0) picked up his second career shutout in the victory. Boston scored two goals in the first period and then cruised from there as they took a firmer grip on third-place in the East Division. They are now three points ahead of the fourth-place Islanders (31-17-6) with a game in hand, two points behind the Capitals (34-14-5) and four points behind top-seeded Pittsburgh (36-16-3) with two games in hand. 

    Two of Boston's best and most reliable players helped stake them to that 2-0 lead. Center Patrice Bergeron took a one-timer from left wing Brad Marchand that went in at 7:11 for his 22nd goal of the season & his fourth straight game with a goal. On the power play, BU's Charlie McAvoy doubled the Bruins' lead as he slammed a one-timer from Marchand that went top shelf at 18:35. Right wing David Pastrnak had the second assist on McAvoy's fifth goal of the season. Things did not get better for New York as right wing Jake DeBrusk skated in on a breakaway and scored for a 3-0 lead at 14:01 of the second period. Center David Krejci and left wing Taylor Hall notched the assists on DeBrusk's fifth goal of the season. The final tally for the B's came from defenseman Brandon Carlo who saw his attempted pass deflected into the net when Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin (30 saves, 15-14-3) accidentally kicked it in off his leg pad. Carlo's third goal of the season was also assisted by Krejci. 

    These same two clubs meet again on Saturday afternoon (3, NESN) at the Garden as Tuukka Rask (14-4-2) gets the start in net for Boston. With some more rest, New York should perform a little better but will it really matter that much? They have absolutely nothing left to play for this season while conversely, the Bruins are just getting everything finetuned before the postseason begins at some point next week. Boston is 5-2 against the Rangers in 2021 with that one matchup left to go between them.