The New York Rangers let a couple of leads slip away against the Bruins, but they persevered and found a way to beat the best team in the NHL on home ice.
NEW YORK, NY -- There were a ton of swings inside of today's game between the Rangers and Bruins. The Rangers didn't fold and found a way to respond with a strong team effort in the 7-4 win against Boston.
LINEUP:
Kreider-Zibanejad-Wheeler
Panarin-Trocheck-Lafreniere
Cuylle-Bonino-Kakko
Vesey-Goodrow-Pitlick
Miller-Trouba
Lindgren-Gustafsson
Jones-Schneider
Quick
1ST PERIOD:
The New York Rangers came out buzzing. You may not have guessed it, but Nick Bonino, the former Boston University Terrier, opened up the games scoring. Bonino found a loose puck in the right circle, turned, and ripped it past Ullmark at the 5:58 mark of the opening frame.
This was Bonino's first goal as a Ranger.
As expected, both teams looked a little sluggish in the early going of the game. That was due to the fact that they were both playing their third game in four days. That said, the Rangers were all over the Bruins in the first period.
The Rangers would get the games first power play. Despite going up against the best penalty kill in the league, they found a way to score. And who else would score on the man-advantage, but Chris Kreider.
Boston had absolutely nothing going for them.
Then, all of the sudden, almost out of nowhere they scored two goals in 24 seconds, tying the game at 2-2.
Jonathan Quick was looking sharp, but Charlie Coyle and Morgan Geekie found ways to beat him.
The Rangers had a couple of chances to regain the lead before the first intermission, but none were better than this flurry of chances from Tyler Pitlick.
With that said, the Rangers found a way to capitalize shorthanded.
Jacob Trouba continues to impress game in and game out. He's had such a strong season for the Blueshirts and made a phenomenal stretch pass to Kreider on this breakaway.
Trouba was a +4 today.
In the postgame, Trouba talked about how tired the guys are considering that they've played so much hockey in the past couple days. Trouba said "Guys are tired, you're coming back from a 1 o'clock game yesterday, with the travel and you wake up this morning and it's time to go again, you're not feeling great. We found a way. I think guys rallied. I think the crowd was a big factor today and kind of helping us rally together and build some momentum and found a way to get a win."
The leadership this season has been absolutely incredible, and it starts with the captain.
Trouba has had such a strong start to this season and Laviolette continues to sing his praise. Laviolette spoke in the postgame and said "Jacob Trouba, who's been an absolute warrior for us. Played really well tonight, but he did that on top of 28 minutes and a really physical game last night. That's the captain of your team, setting the tone last night and then backing it up with another great performance tonight."
After what was an action packed first period, the Rangers led 3-2 going into the middle frame.
2ND PERIOD:
It didn't take Boston long to tie the game in the second period.
David Pastrnak was left wide open in the left circle and fired one through Quick's five-hole 26 seconds into the period.
There wasn't nearly as much action in the second period. The Bruins seemed appeared to have possession for the most of it.
It wasn't until the last five minutes of the period where the Rangers found some momentum. A great shift by the fourth line with Zac Jones and Braden Schneider led to a delayed penalty by the Bruins. The Rangers possessed the puck for what felt like a minute and a half in the offensive zone. Then, Jimmy Vesey found the loose puck in front, finishing off the incredible work to give the Rangers back their lead.
K'Andre Miller joined in on the fun with 24 seconds remaining in the period. Miller started the play on the breakout and joined the rush with Kreider and Zibanejad. Zibanejad set him up for an absolute rip over the glove of Ullmark.
Laviolette always talks about "turning defense into offense." This goal from Miller felt like the perfect execution on what the team is trying to do. I spoke with Miller after the game about how this play developed. Miller told me "Keeping it simple in the D-zone. Simple D-to-D pass. I saw Kreids flying like he usually does up the wall. I tried to get him the puck with speed. Let him and Mika make great plays. I'm surprised Mika even saw me, he made a great pass, between the guys skates even, right on my tape. Just tried to get it on net so, it was great."
I asked Laviolette after the game if this goal goes with the identity of the team. He told me "We're trying to do that all the time. I think there's been more of that. That's certainly a part of what we're trying to do. I think most teams are. Most teams are trying to defend well and then see if you can't catch counters and go the other way. With that you're going to need numbers and guys jumping in, but pretty great play on the breakout pass to catch the pass off the boards from behind. To drive in, to hit Mika on a hard angle. For Mika to see him coming late and then the shot, was just a real, real nice play."
The Rangers took a 5-3 lead into the third period.
3RD PERIOD:
The third period had a ton of action right away. Tyler Pitlick was able to bury home his first goal as a Ranger thanks to a great pass from Vesey.
A little over a minute later, Coyle scored his second of the game on a rebound in the crease, making the Rangers lead 6-4.
After going the past three games without a point, Artemi Panarin cashed in, scoring the Rangers seventh goal of the game.
Braden Schneider put it right in Panarin's wheelhouse.
The teams would trade some chances in the remainder of the third period, but the Rangers would hang on and win 7-4.
A huge win for this group against the best team in the NHL, but for the Rangers, it didn't feel like a statement win.
Once the Rangers are playing their best hockey, it could get really scary for the rest of the league.