Game recap: New York Rangers drop another close one to Boston
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 .
New York Rangers need to stick to their game plan
The New York Rangers came out in this game looking like a team that had learned all they needed about their opponent from the last game. They kept the Bruins to the outside and forced Halak into making several high quality saves. Including one on Alexis Lafreniere taking batting practice from the right circle.
The second period turned into an old time hockey game with fights, scrums and hard hitting action. to say it was a brawl of a period would not be an understatement. But, for the Bruins, this was tactical, it was how they gained control and began imposing their will on the game. The Rangers were forced to defend themselves, with even Pavel Buchnevich dropping the mitts.
https://twitter.com/HockeyHoundShow/status/1360402271046160384
Though the Rangers stood tall, their second period woes continued to haunt them as Nick Ritchie scored the game’s lone goal for Boston halfway through the period. It’s one that Shesterkin would want back.
Sneaking it through.#NHLBruins pic.twitter.com/Vpq1LH34nk
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) February 13, 2021
The third period was not nearly as rough and tumble, but the Rangers were never able to regain the form they showed in the first. They would press and have several opportunities that just didn’t click, but not enough sustained pressure. David Quinn would pull the goalie with just over a minute remaining only to see the puck pinned against the boards for nearly 30 seconds and the Rangers not even get off a meaningful shot on goal.
Notes on the game
- The loss is only the second regulation loss in the last seven games
- Artemi Panarin missed the game with a lower body injury, only the second game he has missed as a Ranger
- Colin Blackwell returned to the lineup
- The Boston Bruins now have a 10 game points streak
- Mika Zibanejad has one assist in his last 10 games
- Chris Kreider is pointless in his last four games after scoring goals in back to back games against Pittsburgh
- Buchnevich has only produced an empty net goal in his last five games
- This is the third time the Rangers have been shut out this season, the first two being versus the New York Islanders. They were not shut out last season.
- Tonight’s shutout was the 51st of his career for Halak, tying him with Curtis Joseph, Dave Kerr, Rogie Vachon and Tomas Vokoun for 26th all time.
- Buchnevich’s fight was the fifth of his career and nearly two full years since the last time he dropped the gloves
My three stars of the game
1- Julien Gauthier was one of only a few Rangers who drove the net and he did it twice, drawing a penalty on his second attempt. Scoring a goal in the previous game seems to have given the winger some new jump in his game.
2 – Kaapo Kakko had a strong game both with his skill and his physicality, sure we would like him to shoot the puck a tad sooner, but he was assertive in his game and did not shy away from contact of the dirty areas and found the open seams for shot attempts
3 – The Rangers Penalty Kill (PK) that was a perfect four for four against a lethal Boston power play that was 12 for 36 (33.33%) before this two game set. The team’s PK has not surrendered a goal in four straight and has held the opposition power play scoreless in eight of their 13 contests.
The official three stars
- Jaroslav Halak
- David Krejci
- Igor Shesterkin
East Division
No other games played
Standings
- Boston 13 10-1-2 22 points
- Philadelphia 13 8-3-2 18 points
- Washington 12 6-3-3 15 points
- Islanders 12 5-4-3 13 points
- Pittsburgh 12 6-5-1 13 points
- Rangers 13 4-5-3 11 points
- New Jersey 9 4-3-2 10 points
- Buffalo 10 4-4-2 10 points
What’s Next
The Rangers next game was scheduled for Sunday, but has been postponed. Their next scheduled game is Tuesday, February 16th versus the New Jersey Devils, though that too is in danger of being postponed as well.
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