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Rangers-Bruins previews: Can they do it again?

By Steve Paulus

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 26: (l-r) Colin Blackwell #43, Chris Kreider #20 and Adam Fox #23 of the New York Rangers celebrate Kreider's second period goal against the Boston Bruins at Madison Square Garden on February 26, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 26: (l-r) Colin Blackwell #43, Chris Kreider #20 and Adam Fox #23 of the New York Rangers celebrate Kreider's second period goal against the Boston Bruins at Madison Square Garden on February 26, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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Ryan Lindgren #55 of the New York Rangers gets his body in front of the puck . (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Ryan Lindgren #55 of the New York Rangers gets his body in front of the puck . (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

About the Rangers

Saturday, David Quinn confirmed that the Rangers will be going with the exact same lineup that started Friday night.  That means Alexandar Georgiev will be in goal for the second straight start for him.  It also means that Filip Chytil is not ready to return and Kaapo Kakko is still on the COVID list.

The Rangers wannabes did a great job on Friday night, allowing David Quinn to roll four lines.  They got goals from Phil Di Giuseppe, Jonny Brodzinski and Colin Blackwell.  For Blackwell, that weas his fourth goal of the season, a career high.  He’s done it in ten games. Last season he scored three goals in 27 games for Nashville.

David Quinn has always said that strong play will be rewarded and pretty much everyone in the Rangers lineup played well on Friday night including the goaltender.  It’s not like Igor Shesterkin will be getting rusty.  The Blueshirts are playing every  other day for the next 22 days with two back-to-back games in the mix.  It’s going to be a very busy month of March for the Blueshirts.

It”s a noon start and the Rangers won their only matinee this season after going 4-4-3 last season in day games. The game will be on NBC and the Rangers have not won in their two national telecasts going 0-1-1.

The Rangers were lucky to catch the Bruins coming off a bad 7-2 loss to the Islanders and were playing on the second straight night.  They will be well rested for Sunday’s rematch.

About the Bruins

The Bruins placed much of the blame for Friday’s defeat as well as their previous loss to the Islanders on injuries to their blueline.  It’s true that they are missing  Matt Grzelcyk, Jeremy Lauzon, and Kevan Miller and though Grzelcyk practiced Saturday, he is doubtful for Sunday.

To reinforce the blueline, the Bruins acquired veteran defenseman Jarred Tinordi who had been placed on waivers by the Nashville Predators. Tinordi will not be able to play on Sunday due to COVID protocols and travel issues.

In Tinordi that are looking for some of the size they lost when they let 6’9″ Zdeno Chara go via free agency. Tinordi is 6’6″, 230 pounds, almost as big as Chara.

While coach Bruce Cassidy wouldn’t say who would be in net for the B’s, smart money is on Jaroslav Halak.  He has been a Ranger killer his entire career and would be the perfection solution to end the Bruins two game losing streak. It should be noted that he gave up seven goals to the Islanders on Thursday night.

The Bruins will have added incentive on Sunday.  Washington’s win over the Devils on Saturday  dropped the Bruins into second place in the East Division.

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