Recap: Rangers Blow Three Goal Lead, Fall 5-4 to Bruins in OT

The New York Rangers continued their preseason campaign with their first on home ice as they hosted the Boston Bruins. It was another night of limited established NHLers, but a lineup full of players to keep an eye on nonetheless. With just six repeats from game one, all the young wingers competing for a roster spot were slotted in the lineup as was Vladislav Gavirkov in his first appearance as a Ranger. 

The Rangers also began the game with a touching tribute to the late-great Ed Giacomin which was followed by a moment of silence. The players also sported some awesome helmet stickers in #1’s honor. 

First Period

It was a quick first period at the World’s Most Famous as the Rangers were off to another strong start, moving the puck well spending time in the offensive zone. It may have just been game two of preseason, but the effort levels were that of a regular season game—specifically from a sequence involving Brennan Othmann who came into this game looking to rebound from a rough game one. Within the first five minutes of play, Othmann had a nice defensive sequence where he blocked a pair of shots, one of which a pretty hefty slap shot from Nikita Zadorov. 

Just a minute and a half out from the midway mark of the first, the Bruins found the back of the net to put the Rangers down 1-0. Casey Mittelstadt was left unattended at the face-off circle to Shesterkin’s left which allowed him to find Matej Blumel open in front of the net to dish the puck home. Matthew Robertson and Andrej Sustr were caught covering the same side of the ice. 

Not even a minute later, the Rangers were able to answer. The play started and ended with Trey Fix-Wolansky as he laid a solid check on Marat Khusnutdinov along the boards, forcing a turnover for Noah Laba to scoop up. Laba, dished the puck ahead to Brett Berard who made an even better pass back to Fix-Wolansky who cut from his backhand to forehand to sneak the shot past Jonas Korpisalo. A really great shift from a line of forwards looking to make an impact. 

Those would go down as the only two goals for the period but all in all, a solid outing for most of the Rangers. Once again, Gabe Perreault was looking good with his new linemates Jusso Parssinen and Will Cuylle. The Berard line looked great and even the fourth line of Sykora-Carrick-Chmelar had their moments. Defensively, Fox and Gavrikov were as advertised and youngsters Scott Morrow and Jackson Dorrington held their own. Shots were 11-7 Rangers heading into the first intermission with the score tied at one. 

Second Period

Just three and a half minutes into the second, another strong start from the Rangers resulted in them picking up their first lead of the evening. A nifty little go ahead pass from Cuylle at the Bruins’ blueline sent Perreault on a quick zone entry where he was able to beat two defenders and Korpisalo with a sneaky wrist shot. Also worth mentioning a really fantastic, underrated defensive play from Vlad Gavrikov to deliver the hit and create the turnover. That’s two goals in just as many games for the Rangers’ top prospect, 2-1 Rangers. 

Closer to the midway point of the game, Sam Carrick intercepted a bad Bruins pass and had a nice break to the net where he pulled off a silky forehand-backhand deke to beat Korpisalo, extending the Rangers lead to 3-1. 

After the goal, Talyn Boyko came in to relieve Igor Shesterkin who stopped 10 of 11 shots on the night. He would be tested early as less than a minute later, Jusso Parssinen was called for roughing which doubled as the first penalty of the game. Boyko would get some great help from his penalty killers as Gavrikov would pick up a shorthanded goal to make it a 4-1 game in the Rangers favor. Another really good defensive effort from Noah Laba, creating a chance off the rush which allowed him to find a trailing Gavrikov in the slot for the goal.  

Things would quiet down significantly from there but the Rangers held on to a three goal lead heading into the second intermission. Shots after forty minutes were 24-14 in the Rangers favor as they again, seemed to have a strong hold of the game at hand. 

Third Period

It was a quiet start to the third but credit to Brennan Othmann who slowly and steadily was starting to pick up his game as the night went on. He kicked off the third by generating a solid scoring chance for Justin Dowling that would remain just that.

Just over six minutes in, the Rangers got their first chance on the power play as Zadorov was called for cross-checking Fix-Wolansky. The Rangers opened the power play with Cuylle, Brendan Brisson, Fix-Wolansky and Fox and Perreault at the points. The man advantage for the Rangers ended up working in Boston's favor as Fox was stripped of the puck in his own end by Michael Eyssimont who went on to score a shorthanded goal on a nifty backhander to bring the Bruins within two, 4-2.

It would turn into a big night for Eyssimont as just four minutes later, he would take advantage of turnover from Dorrington, roofing a shot past Boyko on the glove side to make it a 4-3 game. Bit of an all-around defensive lapse on the Rangers end, the kind of mistake you want to leave in preseason.

It would turn into an extremely nonideal period for the Rangers as the Bruins pulled the goaltender for the extra attacker nearing the final minute of the period. On the 6-5 opportunity, Eyssimont found a wide open Khusnutdinov right at the doorstep to tied the game up 4-4. Again, another costly defensive lapse that the Rangers need to leave in preseason.

Shortly after, Carrick went off to the box for cross-checking giving the Bruins another power play to close out the final 12 seconds of regulation. This would allow for the Bruins to start the overtime period with a 4-on-3 advantage as the Rangers looked to avoid dropping a game they had a 4-1 lead in heading into the third. Shots after sixty were 33-29 in the Rangers favor.

Overtime

The Rangers killed off the entirety of Carrick's penalty with Boyko making some big saves to keep his team alive. Unfortunately, it wouldn't be enough as a bad chance from Carrick and Cuylle later in overtime cost the Rangers, resulting in a game-winning goal from Nikita Zadorov.

Certainly not how you want a game you led 4-1 to end but at the end of the day, preseason isn't about the results on the scoreboard. Perreault and Laba continued to standout, Gavrikov looked great on the back end, Fix-Wolansky and Berard had their moments as well.

The Rangers will be back at it at the Garden Thursday Night as they'll host the New York Islanders.