After losing the first game of the season to the New York Rangers, 6-2, on the day after Thanksgiving in November, the Boston Bruins were looking to even the score with their long-time Original Six foes. Little did anyone know what was about to unfold on Saturday afternoon at the TD Garden.
The Bruins got four goals from Marat Khusnutdinov, three from Pavel Zacha, and two from Fraser Minten that led to a 10-2 rout. It was domination from nearly the start as the Black and Gold scored three first-period goals, four in the second, and three more in the third before the final horn sounded after 60 minutes. After the game, the New York locker room was at a loss for words.
Rangers left at a loss for words after Bruins rout at TD Garden
Not too many times over the last couple of seasons have the Bruins left their opponents at a loss for words after a game. Boston has been left at a loss for words too many times, but on Saturday, it was the Rangers after another loss in what was an embarrassing performance.
“That’s as bad as it gets,” J.T. Miller said. “The only thing that really matters now is this should sting, like this should suck, like this should make you want to puke… They were more assertive, faster, more physical. They probably felt like they had total control, and they did for a lot of it.”
“I don't know if forgetting about it is the answer,” Vincent Trocheck said. “I feel like we should be embarrassed right now, and I think we are. I don’t think the solution is forgetting about it. I think it’s learning from it. Hopefully, we can take this game and the feeling we have in our stomachs right now, and want to never have that again.”
Head coach Mike Sullivan was at a loss for words too.
“I don't have words. I don't have words,” Sullivan said.
In the overall big picture, it was a win and two points in the standings for the Black and Gold, who have a quick turnaround on Sunday afternoon hosting the Pittsburgh Penguins beginning at 5 o'clock.