The New York Rangers play their final road game of the 2021-22 regular season, taking on the Boston Bruins in a late afternoon game. Both teams are missing key pieces as they hope to remain healthy as the season winds down.
Andrew Copp and Filip Chytil have joined the ranks of the Rangers’ walking wounded, but the good news is their injuries are minor and both are expected back before the end of the season. The Bruins are missing David Pastrnak, their leading goal scorer who is second on the team in points.
Despite the desire to avoid injuries, both teams have a lot to play for. The Rangers are in the hunt for first place in the Metropolitan Division while Boston is trying to climb out of the wild card and into third place in the Atlantic Division.
What’s at stake? For the Rangers, it’s home ice advantage in the first two rounds of the playoffs. For the Bruins, they are trying to avoid a first rendezvous with the powerhouse Florida Panthers.
For individual players, Artemi Panarin is four points from 100 and Chris Kreider needs three goals to tie the franchise record. Igor Shesterkin is supposed to get the start and he is looking to build on his record as he vies for the Vezina Trophy.
The Carolina Hurricanes are playing at New Jersey and were trailing 2-0 midway through the third period. The Pittsburgh Penguins are winning big against the Red Wings. The other Eastern Conference game worth watching is Tampa versus Nashville later tonight.
So far this season
The Rangers have won both of their games against the Bruins. The first meeting was NHL Thanksgiving Day Showdown and the Rangers beat the Bruins 5-2 on national television. Igor Shesterkin made 34 saves in a game that was 2-2 tie until midway through the third period. The Rangers scored three goals in the last nine minutes to build the big lead. You may remember that this was the game that Chris Kreider tried a lacrosse style goal, only to have it disallowed when it was reviewed and showed that Jeremy Swayman made he save.
The last game between the two teams was a 2-1 shootout win on February 15 at Madison Square Garden. That game had a little bit of everything. Igor Shesterkin was removed for the concussion protocol with 41 seconds left in overtime, but returned for the shootout. That went nine rounds with the winning goal coming from K’Andre Miller.
While it was a good win, the Bruins didn’t have Brad Marchand or Patrice Bergeron in the lineup due to injury.
Projected starting lineups
Because of the injuries we will be seeing some new faces in the lineup. Greg McKegg is in for Chytil, playing his first game after sitting out the last nine games. Julien Gauthier is in for Copp and he has appeared only once in the last 18 games.
NEW YORK RANGERS
20 Kreider – 93 Zibanejad – 77 Vatrano
23 Panarin – 16 Strome -15 Gauthier
13 Lafreniere– 21 Goodrow – 14 McKegg
29 Hunt – 17 Rooney – 75 Reaves
55 Lindgren – 23 Fox
79 Miller – 8 Trouba
12 Nemeth – 45 Schneider
31 Shesterkin
40 Georgiev
BOSTON BRUINS
63 Brad Marchand – 37 Patrice Bergeron – 74 Jake DeBrusk
71 Taylor Hall – 56 Erik Haula – 20 Curtis Lazar
11 Trent Federic – 13 Charlie Coyle – 12 Craig Smith
17 Nick Foligno – 92 Tomas Nosek – 26 Marc McLaughlin
48 Matt Grzelcyk – 73 Charlie McAvoy
6 Mike Reilly– 25 Brandon Carlo
28 Derek Forbort – 75 Connor Clifton
35 Linus Ullmark
1 Jeremy Swayman
Linus Ullmark gets his first start in nine days after leaving with an injury. He’s 2-1-1 in five starts against the Rangers.
How to watch and the live conversation
The game will be televised nationally on ABC. Beware the flying camera!
Blue Line Station’s live conversation is active and we can talk about the game, the playoffs, injuries or anything else affecting our favorite team. Join in using the comments section below.