Boston Bruins: 3 Studs Against the Rangers
The Boston Bruins struggled at times Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden against the New York Rangers following a five-day break, but in the end, they got what they wanted, a victory.
For the fourth game in a row, the Bruins had to rally from a deficit, this time from just one goal, this time beat the Rangers in overtime 3-2. The win puts the Black and Gold at 9-1-2 through the first 12 games of the season. They are 8-0-1 in their last nine games, picking up 17 of their 20 points during that stretch.
While it was an up and down game, the Bruins were able to escape with the victory thanks in large part to these three players.
Charlie McAvoy
Once again, McAvoy eclipsed the 25-minute mark for time on ice on 29 shifts. As usual, he was involved in the offense by joining the rush and registering four hits on the net. Defensively he had blocked three shots and had two hits, but it was his play in overtime that set up the game-winning goal.
With Mika Zibanejad and Pavel Buchnevich breaking in on a 2-on-1, McAvoy was able to knock Zibanejad’s pass out of the air and send Brad Marchand away on a breakaway that ended the game. McAvoy’s play was something that you don’t see too often in knocking the puck out of the air, but he also able to control the puck and send Marchy away for the winning goal.
Jake DeBrusk
DeBrusk missed the Bruins’ last road trip through Washinton and Philadelphia as he stayed behind in Boston with an injury. He made his return Wednesday night and had an immediate impact on the game from his first shift.
Generally, David Krejci’s second-line left wing, DeBrusk was moved down to the third line with Charlie Coyle and Anders Bjork. He looked like he didn’t miss a beat in what could be considered his best game of the season to date.
He was a shooting machine with 12 shots attempted with seven hitting the net. In the third period and the game tied 1-1, he unleashed a wrist shot from the slot that hit Rangers goalie Alexander Georgiev’s shoulder, hit under the crossbar, and bounced near the goal line. The goal light went on, but after a review, it was decided that the puck did not go across the goal line.
Depending on which replay on the NBCSports broadcast you look at, you can come away thinking the puck did cross the line or you could come away thinking it did not cross the line.
A couple of shifts later, the Bruins took the 2-1 on Bjork’s goal. DeBrusk gained possession of the puck behind the Rangers net, gave Bjork a pass at the side of the net and he was able to slide the puck five-hole on Georgiev for his first goal of the year.
Tuukka Rask
Yes, I know, he had probably the biggest “What are you doing?” moment of the season with a minute left in the game when he skated to the bench thinking the Bruins were losing and ready to send the sixth player on the ice. Fortunately, he was able to get back in the net in time to avoid disaster.
Besides that hiccup, the main reason the Bruins left MSG with their fourth consecutive victory was the stellar play of Rask. He was called upon to make 33 saves, with not too many being easy.
Zibanejad has one goal this season, a year after potting 41 in 57 games in 2019-20, and Rask added to his frustration and had him shaking his head.
In the second period and the Rangers on the power play, Rask robbed Zibanejad with a glove save on a shot from the slot. Later in the period and with the Bruins on their power play, Zibanejad broke in alone and attempted to beat Rask high on the blocker side, but the Finnish goalie was able to block the shot with his arm.
Rask kept the Bruins in the game with 13 second period saves and then 14 more in the third period as the Black and Gold’s defense struggling in what could be considered their toughest 60 minutes as a unit this season.
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As the season goes along, Rask is getting better and better in each game he plays, and last night, he stole two points for the Bruins to extend their winning streak.