Rangers at Bruins

What would it have taken for the Boston Bruins to acquired J.T. Miller? It took the New York Rangers Filip Chytil, so now two of the Rangers’ primo young players of the last several years have been sent packing to other NHL cities in a matter of days. (Kaapo Kakko was traded to Seattle in December for defenseman Will Borgen and draft picks.)

Last worn by former captain Jacob Trouba, the Rangers’ No. 8 sweater was worn in the 1970s by Steve Vickers, pictured above (during Game 2 of the Rangers’ five-game elimination of the depleted Bruins in the opening round of the 1073 Stanley Cup playoffs at Boston Garden. Also see Vickers’ Feb. ’73 fight with Bruins LW Don Marcotte. Today the number will be worn by J.T. Miller in the first game since his acquisition from the Vancouver Canucks. Sports Illustrated photo

Boston fans may recall J.T. Miller from his hit that knocked David Backes out of the 2018 second-round, Bruins-Lightning series (won by Tampa Bay in five).

Jeremy Swayman is in net today for the Bruins, according to coach Joe Sacco, who also announced this hour that Oliver Wahlstrom is back in the lineup today as is defenseman Michael Callahan (Parker Wotherspoon sits; Sacco said the decision on the other scratch had yet to be made when he met with the media).

Igor Shesterkin leads the Rangers onto TD Garden ice, as Swayman does the Bruins. J.T. Miller is on TDG ice taking the warmups for New York.

Here are today’s projected lines/pairings/starters: Mika Zibanejad will skate right wing opposite Artemi Panarin with Miller at center. The Bruins will counter with Elias Lindholm between Brad Marchand and Charlie Coyle, so both teams have a centerman starting this game on the wing.

FIRST PERIOD

Mason Lohrei starting alongside Charlie McAvoy on the Bruins blue line. Apparently, the experiment with McAvoy and Nikita Zadorov is over for now.

Eight minutes and 19 seconds of fast action beginning with Miller almost connecting on the opening salvo of the game (his shot missed the net left of the post), then the Bruins over the last four minutes with multiple lines cycling and one close call when the puck snuck under Shesterkin, whose flexibility came to the fore in keeping the puck on the blue side of the goal line.

Former Bruins first-rounder Urho Vaakanainen to the box at 8:19 for crosschecking, and the Bruins get the first powerplay.

Ryan Lindgren boards Matt Poitras in the corner and goes to the box alone. In keeping with the recent trend, no reaction-related penalties were called so 14 seconds of 5-on-3.

McAvoy and the Bruins think he has scored one second after the expiration of the first penalty, but the on-ice officials (and the Rangers) weren’t so sure so the play is under review. The goal is on the board at 10:21. 1-0 Bruins.

Naturally, this is where Bruins fans have grown accustomed to holding their breath, but 15 seconds of ensuing action did not yield a tying goal by the Rangers.

And there it is. Brandon Carlo’s clearing pass deflects, and one pass later Miller rockets a one-timer top corner to tie the game at 10:55, 34 seconds after the Bruins had taken the lead.

Morgan Geekie to the penalty box for hooking Lindgren behind the NY net at 14:33. Rangers to the powerplay for the first time today.

McAvoy’s clearing attempt intercepted, centering feed to Chris Kreider, save Swayman. Flashed the glove to the right post to snare Kreider’s shot. 27 seconds left to kill, now 22 after another Swayman smother.

Poitras quickly out to Pastrnak, who sneaks into the slot unchecked, 2-1 Bruins at 17:09.

Big rebound for the Bruins, thanks to Poitras’ quick accuracy in playmaking and a professional finish by the NHL’s Player of the Month for January 2025.

Zadorov gives Vinny Trocheck a seat to the delight of the home crowd. Pastrnak is offside and winds up in a hug with Trocheck, but this meeting is all nice.

Shots after one period: 11-8 NYR,

SECOND PERIOD

Zadorov fires from the right point, and the puck caroms off Marchand and out of play. Marchand in pain as he leaves the ice.

Rangers pinch and cut off Johnny Beecher’s halfwall play, Bruins ice the puck. But they get out.

Coyle tips in Andrew Peeke’s slapper from the right point at 3:39, 3-1 Boston. Peter Laviolette uses his one and only, as the Rangers huddle.

Bruins are outshooting NYR, 6-0, in the second period.

Callahan down the runway for repairs after being struck by the puck on a Rangers zone entry.

Bruins are holding a wide territorial advantage on the Rangers. Beecher had an excellent shift after the one with the turnover. Pastrnak almost got his stick on a floating puck as he roared through the slot. The Rangers are still looking for their first shot of the period – Boston with a 7-0 shots margin in the second period.

Zadorov ices the puck from an attacking posture.

Rangers win the ensuing faceoff and get a good point shot on net before the Bruins can reach the 10-minute mark of the period. Swayman sticked the puck (headed for the left post) away, and the NYR’s have their 12th shot and first of the second period.

Zadorov had two passing options he apparently didn’t quite like so, rather than skate the puck another 5 feet and risk offsides, he fired between the two targets, resulting in the icing.

In the larger picture, it’s been an excellent response by the Bruins since giving up the tying goal to Miller.

The Rangers gave Poitras quite the workover when he was trying to change out. The Bruins survived the drag on their change, but Adam Fox skated the puck down an opening on the right wing, shooting from a sharp angle. Swayman gave up a rebound but managed to cover the low end, denying the threat.

The Bruins responded with a chance of their own, not reaching Shesterkin with three shot attempts from various angles.

Panarin fans in the left circle. He’s been quiet but is clearly trying to announce himself to the national-television audience.

Braden Schneider strips Poitras of his stick, and the Rangers pressure with a powerplay-like situation that the Bruins survive when a pass to the left point goes astray.

The Bruins reverse the tide, as Beecher makes a great lunge to poke the puck forward for Justin Brazeau, who passes to Geekie – save Shesterkin at the doorstep – Geekie is then taken down illegally, and Will Borgen goes to the box. Bruins to the powerplay with 3:15 left in the second period, up 3-1. Big opportunity here …

One too many passes winds up being the right amount as the puck deflects to Pavel Zacha for the goal at 17:10. Bruins up 4-1.

Predictable pressure by the Rangers, who cannot make the decisive connection.

Marchand has a big chance behind the NYR defense and complains loudly that he was hacked. No call on the play.

Now Marchand goes to the penalty box with 1:20 left in the period for interference.

Rangers are handed another chance at getting back to within two goal at intermission.

Swayman saves the point shot, Miller bumps Carlo, Carlo comes back hard but Trocheck steps in while Zadorov neutralizes Miller.

One more flurry, Bruins clear, Period 2 ends.

Forty seconds remain on Marchand’s penalty, as the teams break for second intermission.

Shots through two: 18-13 Boston (10-2 Bruins for the second period).

THIRD PERIOD

Zibanejad gets the Rangers their powerplay goal at 35 seconds of the third and are back in it at 4-2.

Marchand’s penalties have been costly to the Bruins as of late.

Pastrnak gets it right back after he cut off a Rangers outlet and Poitras picked up the stray puck and passed it back for a one-timer that beat Shesterkin cleanly at 1:21. Bruins up 5-2.

Bruins whistled down for too many men on the ice at 4:17. Poitras serving the PIM.

Rangers PP: It’s a lively powerplay with J.T. Miller switching the puck hard from one side of the ice to the other. The Bruins almost got caught with a second too-many-men, but Peeke jumped back over the boards in the nick of time.

McAvoy excellent one-handed play on the puck at high speed. Bruins get out and Marchand has a short-handed chance but his fended off by K’Andre Miller, who then shoves down Marchand on a second push. Marchand didn’t like it and next time down the ice cut behind the net, feigning puck pursuit, but Miller accurately read 63’s intentions and sidestepped his lunging shoulder.

Bruins get a crucial kill and have a three-goal lead with 13:36 remaining.

Sam Carrick shanks a centering pass, and his shot glances off the crossbar.

Zacha spins and feeds across to Geekie, who can’t make the connection.

Beecher takes out the right post and explains his case to the official to no avail. Not a star, not getting a call with a three-goal lead midway through the third period. Ain’t happening. That was NOT the explanation given, but I guarantee that to be the prevailing truth.

Panarin is denied a shooting angle by Peeke, but his best shift of the game leads to a goal for Jonny Brodzinski at 10:48, and it’s now a 5-3 game Bruins.

Eight minutes remaining in regulation when Fox takes the puck down the right wing, goes far post on Swayman and hits it square. Puck caroms out, Bruins dodge that bullet. A nailbiter is not what they want with 8:00 on the game clock, not after this response to the here-we-go-again moment of Miller’s first-period goal.

Down to 5:40, Shesterkin still in the Rangers’ net.

Bruins sloppy, Zacha turns it over, but Swayman snares Trocheck’s backhander from the slot.

Swayman makes a big stop on Borgen’s tip of Lindgren’s point shot. 4:14 left, Shesterkin still in.

Sheskterkin to the bench with 3:30, but the Bruins finally get a clean out and Pastrnak completes his hat trick, 6-3, with 3:22 to go.

Drive safely.