New York Rangers Game Thread: 2/4, Bruins at Rangers
The Rangers are looking to pick up their third win in a row against a Bruins team that has had a lot of success against them lately... and they have to do it without Henrik Lundqvist.
Game Forty-Nine, the Boston Bruins at the New York Rangers
Record: 29-15-4
Bruins vs Rangers coverage | NYR roster | Stanley Cup of Chowder
The Rangers will be looking for their 30th regulation win of the season tonight at the Garden against the Boston Bruins. We all know that the Bruins play a style that tends to give the Rangers a headache. Boston may not have an offensive dynamo to keep an eye on, but they make up for that with balanced scoring and some of the best goaltending and defense in the league. You simply don't score many goals on the Bruins, especially when Tuukka Rask is in net and/or when Zdeno Chara is on the ice. So when chances present themselves tonight, it is crucial for the Rangers to finish.
The Blueshirts are going to need to raise their game in a big way if they want to come away with two points tonight. They cannot afford to have the kind of start they had against the Florida Panthers on Monday night, and they certainly can't find themselves making turnovers in their own zone. The Bruins are going to take the body, clog up the neutral zone, and try and slow down the Rangers as they go through the neutral zone. Will the Rangers be able to find an answer to the Bruins and Rask tonight and pick up third win in three games? Of course that task will be made all the more difficult without Henrik Lundqvist in net for the New York Rangers. The news came out earlier today that Henrik Lundqvist is injured and will not be available to play in tonight's game, which means that Cam Talbot gets the start. Mackenzie Skapski will be the Blueshirts' backup goaltender tonight.
The New York Rangers' February Schedule
2/2 Panthers at the Rangers, 7:00 PM(win.)
2/4 Bruins at the Rangers, 8:00 PM
2/7 Rangers at the Predators, 3:00 PM
2/8 Stars at the Rangers, 5:00 PM
2/10 Rangers at the Leafs, 7:00 PM
2/12 Rangers at Avalanche, 9:00 PM
2/14 Rangers at Coyotes, 8:00 PM
2/16 Rangers at Islanders, 7:00 PM
2/19 Canucks at Rangers, 7:00 PM
2/20 Rangers at Sabres, 7:00 PM
2/22 Blue Jackets at Rangers, 7:30 PM
2/24 Flames at Rangers, 7:00 PM
2/26 Coyotes at Rangers, 7:00 PM
2/28 Rangers at Flyers, 8:00 PM
Mike's Player to Watch: Dan Boyle
Coming into tonight's game at the Garden, Dan Boyle has two goals in his last two games. I can't say that I was thrilled when the Rangers signed Boyle, but I have been pleasantly surprised by his game and his ability to move the puck. It's true that he tends to have a little bit too much flair for his own good and be a bit reckless with the puck, but Boyle gives the Rangers' blue line a different look. Will Boyle stay hot tonight playing against Zdeno Chara and the Bruins? We'll have to see if the Rangers' power play gets going and whether or not the puck-moving blueliners on the team, including Boyle, can break through the forecheck and system of the Boston Bruins. It will be a tall task for Boyle, but the savvy veteran has looked pretty good of late. Here's hoping we see a big game from him tonight on the Garden ice.
Let's go Rangers! Drop the puck.
