FINAL SCORE: Rangers 3, Bruins 2
BRUINS RECORD: 27-17-5
FROM JOE HAGGERTY:
1. Welp, it looks like it isn’t going to be an enjoyable bye week for Tuukka Rask. The Bruins goaltender got violently trucked by big Filip Chytil on a power move to the net where Charlie McAvoy knocked the Rangers forward into Rask with what looked like a pretty nasty blow to his head area. Chytil also scored on the play going hard to the net. Rask had to be helped off the ice and to the dressing room, and was replaced by Jaroslav Halak in a tied hockey game where he obviously won’t pass Tiny Thompson. It’s pretty surprising nobody did anything about Chytil going that hard into the net even if he was aided by the McAvoy contact. The Bruins announced during the second period that Rask was out with a concussion and won’t be returning to tonight’s game. Meanwhile they have used Lady Byng politeness around the New York Rangers net.
2. Danton Heinen rewarded Bruce Cassidy’s faith in keeping him in the lineup despite recent offensive woes. Heinen scored his second goal in the entire month of January, and actually finished off a very solid shift where he kept possession at the offensive blue line and then cut to the net. JFK found Heinen going to the net and the Bruins winger tucked one inside the post after the slick fish from the Swedish centerman. It would really, truly help the Bruins could catch some kind of fire offensively in the second half of the season once the bye week is over.
3. A nice video tribute for Adam McQuaid during the first period after the Rangers put him in the starting lineup in his first time back at TD Garden. He gave a few heartfelt waves to the crowd during an ovation after the video, and then it was back to work on the ice. The Bruins sure could use that McQuaid toughness and willingness to defend teammates these days. It was almost comical to watch McQuaid and Marchand get tangled up in the end boards in the second period as both players cuffed at each other and No. 63 actually knocked McQuaid’s helmet off his head. Old friends renewing acquaintances.
4. The Bruins were 42-for-66 in the face-off circle, but lost one of the most important ones with Bergeron losing in the defensive zone to Mats Zucarello that almost immediately led to a Mika Zibanejad tipped goal right in front of the net. It was one of only five draws that Bergeron lost in the first two periods. Zdeno Chara, Charlie McAvoy, Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak were also all minus players in the game, which makes it awfully difficult on the Bruins to win when that happens.
Boston Bruins
5. Chris Wagner jumps off the bench for a shift and drills Jesper Fast with a big hit. He's immediately jumped by Adam McQuaid protecting his teammate. This is exactly what the Bruins have been missing this season, though it did result in a power play for the B’s in the final five minutes of the third period in a one-goal game. Predictably, though, the Rangers killed off the PP awarded for McQuaid stepping up for his teammate and the Bruins fell short in the end. The Bruins finished 0-for-5 on the power play and certainly looked like they could use the bye week to rest, relax and retool things for the final few months of the regular season.
HIGHLIGHTS
WELCOME BACK, MCQUAID
https://twitter.com/mkmolnar/status/1086783464148516864
HEINEN GETS B'S GOING
RANGERS SCORE, RASK LEAVES WITH SCARY INJURY
RANGERS JUMP AHEAD
MARCHAND TIES IT AT 2
RANGERS RETAKE LEAD
UP NEXT
TUESDAY: vs Jets, 7:00 p.m. (NESN)
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