mika zibanejad

Henrik Lundqvist snagged win number 446, passing Terry Sawchuk for sixth all time as the Rangers topped Boston 3-2, entering their bye week/All Star break on a three game win streak. Mika Zibanejad had a pair of goals, Mats Zuccarello had a pair of assists, and Filip Chytil scored another highlight reel goal in the win.

The game didn’t come without drama, though, as Chytil’s goal knocked Tuukka Rask from the game with a concussion. Chytil was pushed into the netminder by defenseman Charlie McAvoy –something the Boston broadcasters failed to mention, but anyone with eyes could clearly see– and the play resulted in Chytil’s butt hitting Rask in the head, and Rask going down hard. It did not look good.

Bruins 1, Rangers 0

Brett Howden has been having a rough go of it lately. Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson pressured the rookie along the boards, Howden lost the puck, and found Danton Heinen for the goal.

Watch Heinen on this play though, he’s the guy that has the puck as the play develops and gets it deep. Brady Skjei is on him, and is even in good slot position as Forsbacka-Karlsson and Howden are fighting for the puck. But Skjei loses him for a split second after the turnover, and that’s where Heinen found his opening.

Rangers 1, Bruins 1

I guess Chytil is good at hockey?

Rangers 2, Bruins 1

This was a set play, but came off a Zuccarello (!!) face off win over Patrice Bergeron (!!!). Zucc won it clean back to Skjei as Zibanejad cut to the net. Skjei hit Zibanejad perfectly for the tip-in.

David Pastrnak went out to pressure the point off the faceoff, and Zibanejad found the seam in the defense before McAvoy could get there.

Rangers 2, Bruins 2

Lundqvist mishandled the puck here on the potential icing, which led to the turnover behind the net. You know how this goes. There’s chaos, and Brad Marchand found an opening in front for Pastrnak’s pass.

Rangers 3, Bruins 2

Zibanejad gets the goal, but this is again a clinic in front by Chris Kreider. He’s become so good at timing his screens for the shot, then jumping out of the way last second. One of the best in the game at it.

Shot Heatmap

The Rangers came away with the win, but Boston controlled the game. It’s weird, it’s like the Rangers refuse to actually take shots. That’s another game where their shot cloud is tiny.

And now we have nine days off before the trade deadline chatter will certainly heat up.

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