New York Rangers: Back to reality in a 3-1 loss to the Boston Bruins

The game

The first period was evenly played with the Bruins outshooting the Rangers 11-9. The Rangers actually had more shot attempts than the Bruins and they had to kill the only penalty of the period.  It wasn’t scintillating hockey, more of a defensive slugfest.   It remained that way until Charlie McAvoy scored a bizarre goal that has to be called lucky.

Alexandar Georgiev got himself into trouble when he tried to clear the puck out of the zone, but he handed it to McAvoy at the point.  McAvoy just let loose with a wrist shot that was deflected by Mika Zibanejad then it hit Jacob Trouba in the back and the puck fluttered up and over Georgiev.   It was a crushing goal with only 42 seconds left in the first period.

The second period was more of the same except that the Rangers had a marvelous opportunity to take the lead when Ryan Lindgren was high-sticked by David Krejci and the Blueshirts were awarded four minutes of power play time.

To call the power play ineffective would be generous.  The Rangers were able to get only two shots on goal and the Bruins penalty kill didn’t allow the Rangers an opportunity to get set up.  Still, the match remained a one goal game and things looked up when Brad Marchand was hit with a two minute penalty for cross checking Ryan Lindgren.

It was more dirty work by Marchand when he cross checked Lindgren who was sparring with Patrice Bergeron.

Note that it was Pavel Buchnevich who stepped in a laid out Marchand in defense of his teammate, Lindgren.

Unfortunately, Marchand and the Bruins who had the last laugh.   This time, the power play unit didn’t just fail to score, they allowed  shorthanded goal.

Charlie Coyle stole the puck from Jacob Trouba and had a clean breakaway and beat Georgiev on the glove side.

It was another late period goal, coming with only 1:18 left in the second period.  Things were not looking good for New York.

The third period was more of the same as the Bruins played shutdown defense and the Rangers were equally as stingy on defense. At 9:05 Torey Krug went off for tripping and this time, the Ranger power play went to work .

This power play setup was a little unusual with  Zibanejad quarterbacking the unit with the absence of Tony DeAngelo.  The Swede took the shot from the blueline and it was Pavel  Buchnevich providing the screen in front of the net.

The goal woke up the Garden crowd and that in turn woke up the Rangers and they buzzed for the last ten  minutes, but the Bruins are a rock solid defensive team and despite pulling Georgiev, the Rangers