Rangers vs. Bruins: 3 things to watch for seeking fresh start in 1st game of 2025
Lately, the New York Rangers have been big on talking up re-sets as a way to get their season back on track. That latest re-set opportunity arrives Thursday, when the Rangers host the Boston Bruins at Madison Square Garden in their first game of the New Year.
They must hope that it actually takes this time. Most recently, the Rangers (16-19-1) played up a fresh start after the NHL holiday break. They subsequently lost two more games, 6-2 to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday and 5-3 to the Florida Panthers on Monday.
The somewhat bright side here is that the Rangers did play better hockey and at a better compete level despite losing those games. In Tampa, they were submarined by awful special teams play; in Sunrise, Sergei Bobrovsky turned in a gem between the pipes for the Panthers and each Rangers defensive miscue seemed to end up in the back of their own net.
Obviously, there were still issues in each of those defeats, some significant ones. But there just might be some light at the end of the tunnel for the Rangers, who’ve lost four in a row, seven of eight and closed out 2024 with four wins in their final 19 games.
Of course, they’ll be without No. 1 goalie Igor Shesterkin for at least the next three games. Shesterkin landed on injured reserve with an upper-body issue after the Panthers game. So, that’s just another hurdle for the Rangers to overcome.
Related: Zac Jones furious about lack of playing time: ‘It (bleeping) sucks’
3 things to watch for when Rangers host Bruins
1. Quick turn of events
With Shesterkin sidelined, the Rangers turn to veteran backup Jonathan Quick. It’s about as soft a landing spot as you can have, when you replace your injured star with a three-time Stanley Cup champion, who’s still playing at a high level.
However, after a fantastic start, that included two shutouts in his first four starts to begin this season, Quick is without a win since Nov. 30. He was 0-3-0 in three December starts, and had a pair of no-decisions in relief of Shesterkin. He’s allowed five or more goals in three of his past five starts and at least three in each of those five. So, his ascension to the starter’s role doesn’t come without some concern.
Still, the 38-year-old is about as a good a second option as any team has at the position in the NHL. And he’ll bring a steady presence for a struggling team that needs just that. Plus it’ll be cool to see him continue his run to 400 career wins. He’s just two shy of becoming the 15th goalie in NHL history to do so.
2. Not what was expected
As was the case the previous few seasons, the Rangers and Bruins entered this one with Stanley Cup aspirations. We all know that the Rangers have fallen far short of expectations and currently reside in the basement of the Metropolitan Division and 15th in the 16-team Eastern Conference.
But things haven’t gone smoothly for the Bruins (20-15-4) either. For sure, they’re in a better spot than the Rangers. The Bruins are third in the Atlantic Division, though just two points up on the Lightning and four ahead of the Ottawa Senators, each of whom has played far fewer games.
Where the Rangers started quickly this season (5-0-1), the Bruins struggled badly at first (8-9-3) before firing Jim Montgomery as coach and replacing him on an interim basis with Joe Sacco. Since Nov. 21 under Sacco, the Bruins are 12-6-1. However, they enter play with a minus-16 goal differential and are 29th in the NHL in scoring (2.62 goals per game). Their power play is 30th (13 percent) and penalty kill is 25th (75.6 percent).
The Bruins are an average team at best, in need of far more from their star players. Sound familiar?
3. Get more Rangers going
Against the Panthers, Chris Kreider, Filip Chytil and even Ryan Lindgren ended extended goal-scoring droughts. Now others must follow suit.
That starts with Alexis Lafreniere. The 23-year-old who scored 28 goals last season has nine in 2024-25. He is without a goal in 10 games and has one in his past 18. Time to play some big-boy hockey again, Laf.
Artemi Panarin scored against the Lightning, but has one goal in his past nine games. C’mon Bread, time to get on a heater.
Will Cuylle? It’s been a terrific second NHL season for the kid, who’s third on the Rangers with 11 goals. But he slipped recently, and is six games without one. Buckle up Cools.
Adam Fox has one goal all season. And it was shot into an empty net. Nothing more needs to be said. The Rangers must get more production from their top defenseman, who scored 17 goals in 2023-24.
And then there’s Mika Zibanejad. Six goals this season. He’s without a goal nor a point in his past eight games. Really, Mika?
You get the point. It’s time.
New York Rangers projected lineup
Panarin – Trocheck – Lafreniere
Kreider – Zibanejad – Smith
Cuylle – Chytil – Berard
Edstrom – Carrick – Vesey
Lindgren – Fox
Miller – Borgen
Vaakanainen – Schneider
Quick
Domingue
Rangers vs. Bruins: When, where, what time, how to watch
Who:Â New York Rangers vs. Boston Bruins
When:Â Thursday, Jan. 2 at 7 p.m. ET
Where: Madison Square Garden
How to watch:Â MSG
Click here for New York Rangers complete 2024-25 schedule and game results
More About:New York Rangers News
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