Rangers vs. Bruins preview: 1st game with fans at the Garden
By Steve Paulus
About the Rangers
Of the Rangers’ first 17 games this season, 12 have been one goal game (taking empty net goals out of the equation). The Blueshirts have won only four of those games and that is why they are mired in seventh place, tied with Buffalo for the fewest points in the division.
Their offensive woes continues, though they showed signs of breaking out of it in their loss to Philadelphia. The problem is that it was Chris Kreider who scored all of their goals on Wednesday and they need others to step up. Mika Zibanejad was stopped on two breakaways. Colin Blackwell missed a wide open net. Ryan Strome’s inability to lift the puck cost him a goal.
Until the Rangers start getting offensive contributions from throughout the lineup, it will be same old story.
There are some positives to report. Zibanejad doubled his assist total and he could have had more. He set up Kreider for one goal and Blackwell’s missed opportunity.
Although they gave up two power play goals, the penalty kill was still outstanding, especially when they killed 1:38 of a two-man disadvantage. They have killed 38 of their last 40 penalties. That’s a 95% success rate in their last 10 games. Their 84.4% season rate is eight best in the NHL.
They are in the top 12 in fewest shots allowed per game (29.1) and eighth best in goals against average (2.65).
Chris Kreider is the hottest Ranger and as a streaky scorer, that bodes well for the team. His eight goals lead the team with only five players in the East scoring more. Five of those goals have come on the power play with only James van Riemsdyk and Victor Olofsson having scored more in the East.
On the other hand, Pavel Buchnevich has only one goal in his last seven games and Mika Zibanejad and Alexis Lafrenière’s scoring woes have been well documented.
The biggest challenge for the Rangers will be on defense. You cannot overstate the loss when you have to replace Jacob Trouba and K’Andre Miller with Brendan Smith and Jack Johnson. Trouba and Miller were instrumental in the 1-0 loss to the Bruins, perhaps the finest defensive effort of the season. They shut down the top line of Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak.
Filip Chytil skated in his first full practice on Thursday, but won’t be back in the lineup tonight. That would mean another chance for Jonny Brodzinski who did not have a good outing against the Flyers. The COVID list is updated every day at 5pm and there is a chance that Kakko or Miller could come off the list. The return of either player would be a huge boost for the Blueshirts.
One thing is for certain, Alexandar Georgiev will be in goal for New York. He gave up three goals in the Rangers’ overtime loss to the Bruins on February 10. He is 1-2-1 lifetime against the Bruins with a 2.95 goals against average (GAA). He last played nine days ago in the Rangers’ shootout win over the Flyers.