Rangers at Bruins: Dress rehearsal

It’s close to varsity for the Boston Bruins and a not-too-shabby New York Rangers lineup here at TD Garden. Expect lines below:

What we’re really looking for in this game is Boston’s second line. Some variation of this bottom six is likely, as Bruins Coach Marco Sturm hinted at the probability of another Matt Poitras assignment to AHL Providence.

Here comes the national anthem and today’s game…

FIRST PERIOD

So, for some reason we may find out after the game, Elias Lindholm missed a shift between David Pastrnak and Morgan Geekie. So what happens, Fraser Minten gets the call and winds up with a primary assist on a goal by Nikita Zadorov. After Lindholm, Minten is the second best defensive forward on the Bruins, so the only major adjustment is Minten shoots left. Will we ever see it again? I suppose next time Lindholm breaks a skateblade (or whatever happened).

One earlier play of note was when Matt Rempe ran Mark Kastelic, who was supporting Mason Lohrei’s scramble behind the Boston net. Rempe got him almost from behind – maybe three-quarters – Kastelic retaliated with three quick crosschecks at Rempe as if to say, bring it on, let’s go. Didn’t happen, game ain’t over yet. I’m sure Bruins management is in no hurry to see Kastelic get his first fight in the books since he was shut down during the season. For all that went wrong with the Bruins last year, let’s not forget that Kastelic was the clubhouse leader for 7th Player through the holidays. The second half was only better for three of guys named Pastrnak, Elias Lindholm and Nikita Zadorov.

Big assist for Casey Mittelstadt on Pavel Zacha’s goal to make it 2-0. Mittelstadt and Viktor Arvidsson disrupted the Rangers on the forecheck, and Mittelstadt found Zacha in the slot for a dead-to-rights (as Johnny Pierson would say) shot that beat Igor Shesterkin stick side.

Minten continues to make plays and almost got Mikey “Pain in The” Eyssimont a goal. This time he held the puck at the right point, backing away from the circle to evade the Rangers and made a great decision before running out of room.

Another thing we’re taking a hard look at today is Sturm’s deployment of three balanced defense pairings: Lohrei with Charlie McAvoy, Hampus Lindholm with Andrew Peeke and Zadorov with Henri Jokiharju. Zadorov-Jokiharju is the lone pairing carrying over from last season, but it is also listed third in deference to the McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm pairings.

Well Rempe and Kastelic continued the feud, landing in the penalty box with coincidental minors for unsportsmanlike conduct and finally had the full-scale bout with six seconds left in the period. Kastelic survived, but not without adventure, as Rempe has become a more-balanced hitter and fighter, making him less of a sideshow and more of a very scary combatant.

First-period shots: 7-4 Boston.

SECOND PERIOD

We’re 7:26 into the second period, and the Bruins are without a shot, as the Rangers have tightened things up considerably.

Also at 7:26, Rempe ran over Jeremy Swayman, and Andrew Peeke gave him some obligatory shoves. Revision: Peeke was called for hooking Rempe, who was called for roughing Peeke.

Pastrnak took a tripping penalty at the defensive left point, and we get a 4-on-3 powerplay as a result. Still 52 seconds as Rempe and Peeke are freed.

Penalties are up and Pastrnak finds Mikey Eyssimont for Boston’s first shot of the period 10:30 into the frame. It’s a formidable attempt coming from low left circle on the fly, but Shesterkin positioned himself to shut it down.

Carson Soucy boards Minten at the penalty box, Eyssimont steps in to fight and quickly winds up on the bottom. Soucy to the box for boarding, but Eyssimont may get the extra 2 for the challenge, which would make it a 4v4. TV timeout. OK, 4 minutes are on the board for Eyssimont and only 2 for Soucy (even though he took the Eyssimont fight). Awaiting the announcement on this one… OK Part II: Eyssimont now listed for 2 and Soucy not listed. NYR PP… It would appear that the initial boarding call on Soucy was rescinded. Thus the Ranger PP.

Oddly, Eyssimont has not been credited with a shot on Shesterkin – yours truly must have missed something there, but according to the scoreboard the Bruins are still looking for their first shot on goal of the second period (10-0 NYR).

The Bruins finally get the first shot of the second period with 3:12 remaining, and it’s a powerplay goal tipped by Elias Lindholm off a Charlie McAvoy shot only 11 seconds after Will Borgen went to the box for holding Sean Kuraly in the RW corner. 3-0 Boston. (I still think I saw Eyssimont stopped by Shesterkin early in the period).

Official shots for Period 2: 14-2 NYR (18-9 overall).

THIRD PERIOD

Kastelic spins down Alexis Lafreniere, Rangers to the powerplay…

Big and many Rangers chances, but Swayman is holding position and making it look easy.

Marat Khusnutdinov headmans the puck to Eyssimont as the PIM expires, save Shesterkin.

Shots are 28-12 Rangers, and we’re 10:11 into the third period.

The Bruins with Pastrnak ragging the puck (helped by a Ranger-on-Ranger D-zone collision) generated some chances but didn’t bear down hard enough to get pucks on net. It was Boston’s first sustained pressure at 5v5 since… the internet?

It’s been a great game for Swayman, so his teammates are going to try to put a bonnet on it and not allow anything the rest of the way. The Rangers can look at the shot counter today and say they got goalied, but they have Shesterkin, whom they’re adamant is the best in the world. Not today, says Dikembe.

With five minutes remaining, we’re going to wrap this up for today.

The next post you read here will either be a season preview or a short blog on the final round of cuts.

Thanks for reading, and drive safely.