Rangers vs Bruins by the numbers: Shake off the Thanksgiving Turkey Tryptophan

Lafreiere covid
Oct 2, 2021; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; New York Rangers left wing Alexis Lafreniere (13) celebrates with his teammates after scoring the game winning goal against the Boston Bruins during an overtime period at the TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Rangers will face the Boston Bruins for the first time this season. It will also be the seventh time in eight seasons where they play on the road in the Thanksgiving Showdown.

Note: Last season started in January due to the Pandemic, no game was played.

Here’s the game day preview by the numbers.

NYR: 12-4-3 (27 POINTS)
BOS: 10-6-0 (20 POINTS)

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2021 – 1:00 PM ET TD GARDEN
TV: ABC
RADIO: ESPN 98.7 FM

Rangers last game: 4-1 win vs NY Islanders

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RANGERS VS. BRUINS

All-Time: 262-297-97-4 (150-126-55-1 at home; 112-171-42-3 on the road)

This will be the eighth time in the last nine seasons where the Blueshirts will play the day after Thanksgiving. As for the “Thanksgiving Showdown” which is the NH’s matinee game, it’s the seventh time in the last nine seasons the Rangers will be featured.

Seven of the eight games came against the Flyers or Bruins all on the road (3-3-1). The other contest was a 2-1 OT win against the Red Wings at Madison Square Garden. The team is 1-2-1 in the Thanksgiving Showdown vs Boston.

Head coach Gerard Gallant will speak to the media at around 11 AM.

Rangers that can beat the B’s:

Mika Zibanejad – 37 GP, 14G-7A=21 PTS – Zibanejad has multi-point games in two of his last three games against Boston. In those two games, Zibanejad was a combined Plus-5. In 37 games against the Bruins, he has at least one point in 17 of them.

Ryan Strome – 26 GP, 5G-10A=15 PTS – Strome has three points (1G-2A) in his last three games against the Bruins. Last February, Strome had a three-point game (1G-2A) at MSG against Boston. Strome has goals in five of 26 games, assists in seven of 26 games and points in 10 of 26 career games against the Bruins.

Artemi Panarin – 15 GP, 3G-10A=13 PTS – Panarin has points in five of his last six games (6A) and seven of nine games (1G-7A) against Boston dating back to March 19, 2018. In total, Panarin has at least one point in nine of his 15 career matchups with Boston. On April 3, 2016, with Chicago, Panarin tallied a four-point night (1G-3A) against the Bruins.

Per New York Rangers Game Notes

igor shesterkin
Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

New York Rangers by the numbers

Post Thanksgiving Turkey: The Blueshirts are 6-3-1 dating back to the 2010-11 season playing the day after Thanksgiving.

On the verge: A win today could give Gerard Gallant the second most points (29) by a Rangers coach in his first 20 games.

On the Road Again: NY’s 7 road wins are tied for 3rd most in the NHL and their 2.67 road GAA is good for 5th.

Key Rangers:

Igor Shesterkin needs to improve on his career stats vs the Bruins (4 GP, 1-3-0, 8 GA, 3.36 GAA)

Kaapo Kakko has a five game point streak (3G-3A)

Ryan Strome has a seven game point streak (1G -7A)

Adam Fox leads all NHL defensemen in scoring with 19 points

Ryan Reaves leads the Rangers with 71 hits, 4th in the NHL

Rangers Milestones within reach

Mika Zibanejad is 1 overtime goal away from tying Cecil Dillon, Butch Keeling and Brian Leetch (7 each) for the most overtime goals by a player in Rangers history. He’s 1 points away from his 300th point as a Blueshirt.

Artemi Panarin is 8 points away from 500 career points.

Rangers Special Teams

  • NYR PP is running at 21.1%
  • NYR PK is working at 79.7%

*All Stats and Info courtesy New York Rangers

Three Keys for victory

  • Boston is going to come out hard, play structured and weather the storm
  • Keep rolling four lines, it is working
  • The line of Alexis Lafrenière – Filip Chytil – Julien Gauthier are due for a breakout

NHL Rumors

Islanders actively looking for help. There’s a mess in Vancouver and the Rangers goalie issue. Read here.

https://www.thedailygoalhorn.com/nhl-rumors-islanders-looking-for-help-canucks-player-agents-fielding-calls-and-rangers-goalie-conundrum/

Anthony Scultore is the founder of Forever Blueshirts and has been covering the New York Rangers and the NHL... More about Anthony Scultore

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