The New York Rangers have now lost two straight, dropping their second of their games to the Boston Bruins 1-0. It was certainly a lively affair that saw some fights, hard hitting and general ill will towards each other. Yet it was another game where the Rangers power play was ineffective and their star power was absent.
It was already a bad omen when it was learned that Artemi Panarin would miss the game with a lower body injury. It became worse when the Bruins turned back the clock and brought the second period back to the 1970’s. Whatever momentum the Rangers nay have had after a well played first period was wiped away as the game got rougher and meaner. Too many penalties ceased any flow to the game and left the far more seasoned Bruins with the advantage.
Through it all, the Rangers held tight with the beasts of the east. They stood up for themselves, fought back and never folded. In the end the difference was one second effort chance that ended up behind Igor Shesterkin. The Rangers would press, but could generate little and were unable to regain the form they had in the first period that required Jaroslav Halak to make several quality saves.
In the record books this will simply show as a Rangers loss, dropping them to 4-6-3 on the season. In the locker room though, this will show as yet another learning experience for this young team. Though, not a lesson on how to play tougher or meaner. Nor how to play nasty or win a fight. But how a young team was tossed off their game by an older, wiser team .