The Boston Bruins, on one of their centennial-season “era nights,” are looking for a more-cohesive effort on home ice against the New York Rangers than the hot mess of a performance they put on display at Madison Square Garden during a 7-4 loss on Nov. 25.
Both teams played last night, the Ranger winning handily on home ice against slumping Anaheim, while the Bruins (led by Linus Ullmark) gutted out (read: stole) a hard-fought, 5-4 shootout win at Islanders.
The Bruins should be gassed after 65 minutes of survival hockey in Elmont, NY, but this game with both teams still at the top of the Eastern Conference by themselves brings a buzz that should translate into a strong effort on both sides.
The Bruins are yet banged up, missing Charlie McAvoy and Pavel Zacha, while the Rangers have former Norris Trophy winner Adam Fox back in their lineup. Nonetheless, the teams are approaching this one like all the horses are out of the stables.
FIRST PERIOD
Shesterkin vs. Swayman in net. Both backed up last night.
Trent Frederic engaged Jacob Trouba in conversation before a faceoff, no doubt looking to arrange a bout to settle the score of Trouba’s unpenalized slash to the side of Frederic’s head in the November game in New York.
Trouba, who publicly expressed embarrassment over the issue and said he did not intend anything like what the replay showed, did not take up Frederic on his apparent offer.
Matt Grzelcyk took a tripping penalty under sustain pressure by the Ranger with 3:46 remaining in the first period. Brad Marchand, puck hunting on the PK, disrupted Shesterkin on a clearing pass. The Bruins got the kill.
SECOND PERIOD
Trent Frederic scored 2:07 into the second period, crashing the net to jam in a goalmouth feed from James van Riemsdyk in the right-wing corner. Matt Poitras had carried the puck through center and passed to JVR, so beyond Frederic’s goalmouth goal (unsuccessfully contested by Rangers coach Peter Laviolette in hopes for an overturn on goalie interference), this was a big moment for Poitras.
Monster shift by Charlie Coyle in the NY end of the rink. Frederic had similarly controlled on the prior shift but to a lesser extent. The Bruins did not generate clean looks but had a couple of near misses as the Rangers collapsed when the pucks went to David Pastrnak and then Brad Marchand.
Pastrnak put a big hit on NYR defenseman Ryan Lindgren and, minutes later, tried to beat Alexis Lafreniere on a punt but wound up high-sticking the NY forward and going to the box. That was not a good development, especially as the Rangers were beginning to win 50-50 pucks and earn a territorial advantage in play.
Chris Kreider then high-sticked Lindholm, and the sides were even for a potential 1:44.
Lindgren shoved Poitras (holding the puck) into the sideboards, collapsing the Bruins rookie who was having a solid game. Poitras clutched his right arm and went straight down the tunnel.
Frederic got his date with Trouba. The crowd went wild as they squared off. Frederic got in a solid shot, and both went down in a heap.
Danton Heinen tripped Fox skating the puck over the Boston line, putting the Rangers on the powerplay at 13:58.
17,850 officials disagreed.
Artemi Panarin knocked down a hard clearing pass but was ruled above the shoulder at the contact point, sparing the Bruins more pressure on PK.
Laviolette came back with his energy line, and Jeremy Swayman was forced to make his best save of the game.
Pastrnak his Lindgren high a second time in the game, this time Lindgren stayed down and left the ice holding a towel to his bloody head. Pastrnak was called for a boarding major and game misconduct at 18:10.
Pastrnak has been a loose cannon tonight, running Rangers on the boards. He kept the elbow tucked but hit Lindgren with speed, smashing the former Boston prospect’s face into the hockey glass.
Panarin got a minor penalty for his part in the subsequent fracas, so the teams skated 4-on-4 for two minutes with NY going on a partial major upon Panarin’s exit.
The Bruins stalled their way through most of the final two minutes of the period until a line change brought about more aggressive play from Morgan Geekie.
Panarin will have 10 seconds left on his minor when the third period starts, then it’s three minutes of continuous NYR powerplay time pending any further developments.
Shots after two periods: 22-16 NYR
THIRD PERIOD
Bruins got the kill, and Fox was forced to illegally take down Marchand, putting the Bruins on the powerplay at 5:42.
The Rangers had lots of zone pressure, and the Bruins saw many of their clearing attempts snuffed out inside the zone. Finally, Geekie, together with Oskar Steen, generated pressure in the Rangers’ end.
Hampus Lindholm had a wide-open look from the slot and put it off the glass. Otherwise, not a great powerplay for the Bruins.
1-0 Boston with 11:28 as the teams reset during a TV timeout.
Lafreniere then made a big play, controlling the puck outside the Boston blue line along the boards and under pressure of three Bruins before moving it to a teammate for a clean zone entry. Down low, he drew a crosschecking penalty on Brandon Carlo, putting the road team back on the power play with 9:23 remaining in regulation.
Thirteen seconds after the puck dropped, Vincent Trocheck tied the game with a laser from the slot. 1-1.
Lindholm moved the puck behind the Rangers net, then shoved down a checking Fox and was called for high sticking with 7:13 left. Rangers back to the powerplay.
The Bruins get another penalty kill and follow up with more pressure generated by the Geekie line with Frederic and Danton Heinen.
Regulation ends at 1-1 with a 32-22 shots advantage for New York.
OVERTIME
It’s a different look in OT for the Bruins, not only missing McAvoy and Pavel Zacha but Pastrnak with the game misconduct. The home team ices Lindholm, Geekie and Jake DeBrusk.
Rangers counter with Trocheck, Panarin and K’Andre Miller.
Now it’s Fox, Zibanejad and Kreider against Marchand, Grzelcyk and … next change for Boston had Coyle, Heinen and Grizz.
Trocheck wins it at 2:03 after a regroup. The Rangers had been looking all night for one of those low-circle shots and finally got it in OT for the win.
Unlike the game in November between these teams, this was a good one.
Rink Rap with Mick Colageo 