For The Second Straight Night, The Bruins Got Absolutely Blown Out By A Team In New York

 

    Running out of gas in the third period last night in Long Island and losing 7-2 to the Islanders (10-6-3) after giving up five goals in the third period was one thing but tonight at Madison Square Garden, the Bruins (11-5-2) fell apart one period earlier in a humbling 6-2 defeat to the Rangers (7-8-3). After goaltender Jaroslav Halak had to play the entire game vs. the Isles, goaltender Tuukka Rask (28 saves, 7-3-1) was up next to absorb an ugly loss for the B's. Boston has dropped four of its last five games and in all of those losses, they have scored exactly two goals. It's tough to complain about much since they got off to such an incredible start to this season but truth be told, they were probably due for a market correction around this time.

    To New York's credit, they stepped on Boston's throat from the beginning and never really let up. Something called Phillip Di Giuseppe opened the scoring for the Rangers as defenseman Julian Gauthier's shot deflected in thanks to the puck hitting the left wing while he was parked in a screening position on Rask. Former Bruins prospect Ryan Lindgren provided the secondary assist on Di Giuseppe's first goal of the season at 13:16 of the first period. New York doubled its lead early in the second period when center Ryan Strome whipped in a snap shot (his 6th goal of the season) from rookie left wing-and No. 1 overall pick-Alexis Lafreniere and BC's Chris Kreider at 2:32. 

    The Bruins showed a bit of a pulse before a quick flurry by the Rangers put this one to bed. The captain Patrice Bergeron re-directed a pass from right wing David Pastrnak and left wing Brad Marchand. Bergy's eighth goal of the season came at 4:02 and it cut the Rangers' lead down to 2-1. Two local guys scored 12 seconds apart to make New York's advantage way bigger heading into the third period. Harvard's Colin Blackwell tipped in a shot by his former Crimson teammate defenseman Adam Fox for a power play goal. The St. John's Prep alum's fourth goal of the season also featured a helper by Strome at 18:52. I'm guessing that Kreider's goal (his 9th of the season) at 19:04 is the one that Rask would most like to have back. Kreider didn't have much of an angle to shoot from and it wasn't a great shot but nonetheless it still went in the net with Strome registering the lone assist. 

    The entire third period was garbage time as far as I'm concerned and the B's played like it was since Rangers right wing Pavel Buchnevich and center Jonny Brodzinski each added a goal to make the final score even more impressive or depressing depending on who you root for. Boston's top line got the final goal as Marchand was rewarded for going to the net and sticking his large nose into the mix. His team-leading 10th goal of the season was also the 300th of his NHL career and he became only the seventh Bruin ever to reach that lofty mark. The B's will have a light practice tomorrow before a Sunday afternoon matinee (12, NBC) back at MSG. I couldn't tell you which Bruins goaltender will start but I feel like we could see Rangers goaltender Alexander Georgiev (31 saves, 3-2-2) again after he helped beat the Black and Gold tonight. B's defenseman Matt Grzelcyk is on this trip so there's been talk that he could return on Sunday. Their defense could certainly use any help that it can get as they try to avoid an 0-3 road trip (Celtics style!).

Back From Their Mini-Break, The Bruins Just Keep Rolling Along With A 3-2 OT Win Vs. The Rangers

 

    After having two games against Buffalo (4-4-2) postponed over the weekend due to a Covid-19 outbreak within the Sabres organization, the Bruins (9-1-2) were understandably a little rusty as they returned to action tonight at Madison Square Garden against the Rangers (4-5-3). They allowed the game's first goal and gave up a slim third period lead but they still managed to come away with a 3-2 overtime victory thanks to left wing Brad Marchand's sweet move on a breakaway. Boston kept pace atop the East Division as they improved to 8-0-1 in their last nine games and won the first meeting with New York this season. 

    Rangers rookie right wing Julien Gauthier staked his club to a 1-0 lead at 13:50 of the first period as he roofed a one-timer that was in close to the net from left wing Brendan Lemieux. Boston trailed 1-0 after the first but they tied it at one in the second period as Walpole's Chris Wagner used his speed to get in on a breakaway of his own and finish a forehand shot around Rangers goaltender Alexander Georgiev (29 saves, 1-2-2). Wagner's second goal of the season was unassisted and it came at 9:41. It was a sweet play for a guy that was unofficially benched in Boston's last game for taking a couple of penalties vs. Philadelphia (8-3-2). He also fought Northeastern's Anthony Bitetto in the third period after New York's defenseman for some reason took exception to a hard but clean hit. 

    Even though he gave up a pair of goals, Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask (33 saves, 6-1-1) had one of his better performances of the season. Earlier in the second period with the home team on the power play, Rask made an incredible diving glove save on center Mika Zibanejad's re-direct from left wing Chris Kreider that normally is an automatic goal for a guy of that skill level. Boston went up 2-1 at 9:00 of the third period as left wing Anders Bjork beat Georgiev five-hole after a pretty feed from behind the night by the returning Jake DeBrusk (out since January 26 with a lower-body injury). Defenseman Kevan Miller added the second assist on Bjork's first goal of the season. 

    New York tied it at two on a strange play: defenseman Ryan Lindgren's fluttering shot was deflected by Lemieux then it hit Rask and fell on the goal-line where PC's Kevin Rooney was able to tap it in at 11:22. Rask immediately went to the refs complaining that Lemieux used a high stick but after a review, it stood up as Rooney's third goal of the season. It didn't take too long in overtime for the Bruins to grab their fourth straight win. Defenseman Charlie McAvoy broke up a 2-on-1 for New York and chipped the puck ahead to Marchand who made no mistake by flipping in a backhander for his team-leading eighth goal of the season. Center Patrice Bergeron notched the secondary assist on the goal which came only 36 seconds into the extra session. 

    These same clubs will meet again on Friday (7, NESN) at MSG. Backup goaltender Jaroslav Halak (3-0-1) hasn't played since February 1 against Washington (6-3-3) so I would expect him to get the call in this rematch against the Rangers. New York goaltender Igor Shesterkin (3-3-1) has appeared a little more often than Georgiev this season and he's been noticeably better leading me to believe that ex-BU head coach Dave Quinn will go to him for the second meeting with Boston. The Rangers are only a point ahead of the Devils (4-3-2) and Sabres who have both been paused for awhile now so they need to get some more points to create separation before New Jersey and Buffalo are back with a bunch of games in hand.