rangers bruins chris kreider
Feb 10, 2021; New York, New York, USA; Chris Kreider #20 of the New York Rangers falls over Tuukka Rask #40 of the Boston Bruins during the third period at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Bennett/Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports

The Rangers played six strong periods against the Bruins, but had one goal to show for it over both games while getting shutout tonight. The Bruins only had three, which illustrates how far the Rangers have come defensively. But without consistent centers, and without Artemi Panarin, the Rangers couldn’t get anything going.

Let’s focus on the positives here, since they played well in both games. They looked good defensively. They got a bunch of chances in both games. The goalies came up big for the Bruins, which happens. The big thing was that in this one, Igor Shesterkin made the saves when the Rangers needed him to. Yea, that goal tonight was questionable. It’s a learning experience. But late in the game, Shesterkin made the saves. He gave the Rangers a chance. They just got Halak’d.

Bruins 1, Rangers 0 – Turnover and bad post coverage

The Rangers turned the puck over in the offensive zone, and the Bruins turned it the other way. Nick Ritchie got the initial shot off, and then got a bad angle shot on the rebound. It looks like Igor Shesterkin shifted a bit, expecting the play to go behind the net. It didn’t.

Shot Heatmap

The Rangers again had an advantage in quality, but ceded a bit of the quantity. They played the Bruins well, but we’ve said that twice to one goal in six periods of hockey. This is a snake bitten team. But it is also a team that isn’t shooting the same way it was last year.

Skater Results

There’s a lot of good here. The bottom-six are playing very well. The defense is playing very well. But you can’t win without your best players being your best players. Until that top-six finds synergy and consistency, they won’t win. You don’t want to see the Rangers get shutout, but this is about process, and the process was there.

The Rangers might actually have a week off now. The game Sunday is cancelled. The Devils and Flyers both have a bunch of guys in COVID protocol, and those are the next two scheduled games. I’m assumed games will get reworked, since a week off in a condensed season is gonna be tough. But as of now, don’t expect the Rangers to play until the 20th against the Caps.

Charts from Evolving-Hockey.com and Natural Stat Trick.com.

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