Veteran Debuts for the New York Rangers Spoiled in Boston

It was a night of firsts for the team.

Four of their notable veterans and leaders made their preseason debuts against the Bruins, at the TD Garden in Boston.

Henrik Lundqvist took his normal spot between the pipes, along with team captain Ryan McDonagh and one of the team’s assistant captains Dan Boyle manning the blue paint. However, no one’s return to the ice may have been more anticipated then Mats Zuccarello.

After suffering the freakish accident in the first round of last season’s playoffs, Zuccarello finally played alongside his familiar line mates: Derick Brassard and Rick Nash.

And what a return it was. Zuccarello finished with a multi-point night (one goal, one assist) against the Bruins.

His goal came in the first period following Zuccarello’s first point, an assist to defensive prospect Brady Skjei. He backhanded a perfect saucer pass, across the ice to a open Skjei, who hustled up the left side of the ice.

The young defenseman, who has made an impression on everyone this preseason, took a wrist shot, that beat Bruins goaltender Jeremy Smith over the shoulder. The puck hit the far post and bounced back.

However, Smith misplayed it and batted it back into his own net.

Early in the first, the Bruins got ahead on the scoreboard beating Lundqvist from a tip-in, in front of the goal. Bruins forward Tyler Randell was the colprut, as he went to the front of the net on the play. Defenseman Joe Morrow slapped a shot from the back end, which Randall took advantage of, and got it past Lundqvist.

Despite giving up the goal, the King played as if he were in mid-season form. He was in for the first two periods, stopping 21 of 22 shots faced. And some of the shots Lundqvist faced, let’s just say they were your typical saves you would expect from him.

It seems the time off didn’t affect his game, in the slightest.

Zuccarello finished the first period with a one-timer goal, that came on the power play. After Derick Brassard skated behind the net, he passed the puck to a wide-open Zuccarello, who blasted it past the Bruins goalie.

That goal gave the Rangers the lead after the first 20 minutes of regulation.

After some tense moments by the Bruins to start the second, the sophomore Kevin Hayes scored his first of the game. Earlier, head coach Alain Vigneault challenged him, knowing he could perform better than he did against the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday night.

He beat Smith with a low wrist shot that may have deflected off someone in front. It didn’t matter as it padded the Rangers lead to two goals. Assists were credited to Skjei (second point of the game) and Dan Boyle’s second of the game.

A weakness this preseason has been the penalty kill. After giving up at least one power play goal the past two games, the Rangers put an end to that, and were a perfect five for five when short-handed.

The third period would see a goalie change for the team, as Jeff Malcolm relieved the King for the rest of the night. The young goalie performed well, stopping 16 of 18 shots faced.

Unfortunately, he yielded two goals, which forced overtime. The first was early in the period by Bruins Brandon Carlo.

It was a questionable goal as Jimmy Hayes, older brother of Kevin, was seen falling on top of Malcolm’s legs, while the goalie was on the ground. There was not an opportunity for Malcolm to recover to make the save from that.

The second came in the last minute of regulation. the Bruins pulled the goalie, in favor of the extra man. With :53.3 seconds left, the Bruins Ryan Spooner scored the tying goal.

After a scoreless overtime period of the new three-on-three format, it was everyone’s favorite event: the shootout.

It would go for six rounds, until the Bruins Brad Marchand got the puck past Malcolm.

With last night’s loss, the Rangers are 1-2 in the preseason. Their next game will be at the Prudential Center on Saturday at 7:00 pm EST, as they battle the New Jersey Devils.

Next: Brian Gibbons Impresses in the Preseason

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