The Rangers came into face the Bruins with a little chip on their shoulder and a different look lineup. Things did not go their way early, but unlike last night they hung in there.
One player who made sure to standout was rookie Nils Lundkvist, who must’ve heard Gerard Gallant say he wasn’t a lock to make the team. He notched two assists in the game.
He wasn’t the only impressive young player, as 25 year-old Sammy Blais made his presence known early and often.
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Recap: Rangers 4 vs Bruins 3 (OT)
It didn’t take the Rangers long to put themselves in a bad spot with Libor Hajek off for interference at 1:49. The Bruins quickly capitalized with David Pastrnak popping home a top shelf tally from the left circle over Alexander Georgiev.
However, the Rangers did not sulk and tied the game the very next shift. Nils Lundkvist took a shot from the point that caromed off the boards behind the net. Ryan Strome corralled the puck and wrapped it in past Linus Ullmark. Hajek who took the penalty picked up the secondary assist on the play.
Of course it was the Bruins top line featuring Patrice Bergeron that regained the lead exactly two minutes later. The Boston captain rifled it over Georgiev picking up his second point of the period. Things got more complicated when Brad Marchand came in shorthanded on Matthew Robertson and deked him out of his skates to make it 3-1 at 13:28.
The Bruins top line was dominating, but Nils Lundkvist once again made a statement to claim the last open spot on defense. With a late PP, he fired a point shot that Sammy Blais deflected in front to end the period down 3-2.
New York looked much better in the second period but Boston continued to keep the edge in play. Georgiev, who has been solid so far in the preseason tracked the puck well to keep it close. There were hairy moments for the Blueshirts young defensemen but Georgiev bailed them out. He finished the night with 22 stops.
While the Rangers were being outshot 25-14, they were at least putting a hurting on the Bruins for controlling the puck. After two periods, the Blueshirts had 26 hits to the Bruins 15, which was highlighted by Ryan Reaves leveling Taylor Hall. Would the heavy play have an impact in the final stanza?
Tyler Wall replaced Georgiev to start the third and continued to not look out of place. He kept the Rangers in it with 8 saves before Kevin Rooney tied it with a penalty shot goal at 11:05. With the Blueshirts killing a penalty, Rooney was hooked on a breakaway to earn the call. That goal would send this game to OT.
In the extra session, the Bruins were dominating but Linus Ullmark committed a huge gaff playing the puck. Alexis Lafrenière would knock the puck out of mid-air and then quickly backhand it past an unsuspecting goalie for the win.
“It was a completely different night,” head coach Gerard Gallant said afterwards. “I’m glad our team bounced back because I would have been pretty disappointed if we didn’t play the way I expected us to play tonight after last night’s game.”
Rangers Notables
- Tyler Wall picked up the win and stopped all 11 shots he faced
- Nils Lundkvist finished the game with two assists, 3 shots, an even rating in a team leading 21:17
- Sammy Blais was a force scoring a PP goal on 4 shots and 8 hits
- Alexis Lafrenière had a goal and an assist on 3 shots, to go with a +2 rating
- The NYR outhit the Bruins 34 to 18
Next Game: Wednesday, October 6 at 7 PM ET vs the New Jersey Devils at MSG
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