Blue Line Station
Fansided

Rangers vs. Bruins preview: 1st game with fans at the Garden

By Steve Paulus

Feb 12, 2021; New York, New York, USA; Boston Bruins defenseman Jeremy Lauzon (55) and New York Rangers right wing Pavel Buchnevich (89) fight in the second period at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Elsa/Pool Photos-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 12, 2021; New York, New York, USA; Boston Bruins defenseman Jeremy Lauzon (55) and New York Rangers right wing Pavel Buchnevich (89) fight in the second period at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Elsa/Pool Photos-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 5
Next
Boston Bruins right wing David Pastrnak (88) heads for the net against New York Rangers. Credit: Elsa/Pool Photos-USA TODAY Sports
Boston Bruins right wing David Pastrnak (88) heads for the net against New York Rangers. Credit: Elsa/Pool Photos-USA TODAY Sports /

About the Bruins

As previously noted, the Bruins are coming off a 7-2 loss to the Islanders.  They were tied 2-2 going into the third period and the Isles exploded for five goals in the last fifteen minutes.   The seven goals were the most given up by the Bruins in any one game this season.

Boston is in first place in the East, tied with 24 points with Washington though the Bruins have played two fewer games. Three points separate the top five teams in the division.  Obviously, every game is crucial this season. The Bruins record of 11-4-2 means that they are tied with the Flyers for the fewest losses in the division.  Since getting off to a 10-1-2 start, they have lost three of four.  Their only win was a 7-3 win in the outdoor game in Lake Tahoe against a Flyers team missing many of their top players.

Boston scores an average of three goals per game (12th overall) and they give up 2.53 per game (7th overall) just slightly better than the Rangers (2.65).   They give up the fewest average shots per game (25.8) in the entire NHL and they are fourth overall in shots taken per game (31.8).

They excel at special teams with the second best penalty kill in the NHL (88.1%) and the sixth best power play (28.8%).

In their last four games they have given up over four goals per game, much worse than their average.  They have surrendered two power play goals in their last 10 times shorthanded.  Their penalty kill was 6-6 in their 1-0 win over the Rangers.

As usual, the Bruins are led by their big three, Bergeron, Marchand and Pastrnak. Marchand leads with nine goals and 20 points.  Bergeron has seven goals and 19 points.  Since coming back from hip surgery, David Pastrnak has been on fire, scoring nine goals in 10 games.

They are reasonably healthy with Jeremy Lauzon and Ondrej Kase out long term.  Defenseman Matt Grzelcyk skated in practice, but will probably not play and David Krejci will be a game time decision after missing the Islanders game.

With Jaroslav Halak getting the start against the Islanders, we will probably see Tukka Rask in net for the Bruins.  That may be a good thing.  Lifetime against the Rangers, Rask is 10-8-4 compared to Halak who is 23-8-1.  Rask is playing well this season with a 2.56 GAA and a .901 Save Percentage in 10 games.

Home/Analysis