Rangers vs. Bruins: 3 things to watch for in Original 6 rematch
After two days off, the New York Rangers are back in action Wednesday, hosting the Boston Bruins in the first of a three-games-in-four-nights stretch before the 4 Nations break.
Simply, the Rangers want to make a serious push this week before taking two weeks off. They’re 13th in the Eastern Conference, six points out of the second wild card and seven behind the Detroit Red Wings for the top wild-card spot. They also trail the Bruins by six points with three games in hand, making this an important head-to-head clash.
After the Bruins game, the Rangers host the mediocre Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday, then travel to Columbus on Saturday to visit the surprising — but beat up — Blue Jackets.
But it starts Wednesday with an Original 6 clash. The Rangers lost 6-3 to the Bruins on Saturday in J.T. Miller’s return. Back on Jan. 2, the Rangers edged the Bruins 2-1 at MSG. This is the final meeting this season between the teams, and it’s an important one.
Since acquiring Miller, the Rangers (25-23-4) have split two games, losing to the Bruins and rallying past the Vegas Golden Knights 4-2 on Sunday. Overall, they’ve lost three of four (1-3-0) after a season-long 10-game point streak (7-0-3).
The Bruins (27-22-6) have won two straight after a 3-0 home win against the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday. Jeremy Swayman made 33 saves for his third shutout. So, that likely means the Rangers will face Joonas Korpisalo at The Garden on Wednesday.
Related: Rangers trade targets to round out bottom 6, including Brandon Tanev, Nick Bjugstad
3 things to watch for when Rangers host Bruins
1. Testy Shesty
Igor Shesterkin gets the start for the Rangers after watching Jonathan Quick record his 400th NHL win Sunday. Shesterkin is looking to get back on track; he’s lost three straight starts and allowed 14 goals in those losses to the Bruins, Carolina Hurricanes and Colorado Avalanche.
Moreover, Shesterkin has struggled over his career against the Bruins, just 4-8-0 with a 3.00 goals-against average and .900 save percentage in 12 games. It was Quick, not Shesterkin, who backstopped that 2-1 win against the Bruins last month. On Saturday, Shesterkin allowed five goals on 24 shots (one empty-net goal) at TD Garden.
2. Bruins filling up on Pasta
David Pastrnak is on a serious heater for the Bruins. The 28-year-old star forward has 24 points (10 goals, 14 assists) in an 11-game point streak, including a hat trick and an assist against the Rangers on Saturday. He picked up an assist Tuesday to become just the fourth Bruins player in the past 30 years with an 11-game point streak, joining Adam Oates (14 games), Brad Marchand (12 games) and Marc Savard (11 games).
During the streak, Pastrnak’s recorded three points or more five times. He’s now seventh in the League with 27 goals and tied for seventh with 66 points in 55 games.
3. More Mika magic
J.T. Miller has four points (two goals, two assists) since being acquired by the Rangers from the Vancouver Canucks last Friday. He’s sparked the power play and brought energy to the entire lineup and locker room. Perhaps his biggest contribution is helping Mika Zibanejad find his game.
Zibanejad also has four points the past two games, including a massive three-point (one goal, two assists) third period to help lift the Rangers past the Golden Knights. He looks like a different player, skating free, less on his plate by playing wing, especially 5v5 — though he looks better on the power play, too, with Miller joining the PP1 unit.
The 31-year-old is a notoriously streaky player. If he’s about to go off, the timing is pretty darn good for the Rangers, who’ve got work to do to get back into a playoff spot.
New York Rangers projected lineup
Panarin – J.T. Miller – Zibanejad
Smith – Trocheck – Lafreniere
Kreider – Brodzinski – Cuylle
Vesey – Carrick – Rempe
Lindgren – Fox
K. Miller – Borgen
Vaakanainen – Schneider
Shesterkin
Quick
Rangers vs. Bruins: When, where, what time, how to watch
Who: New York Rangers vs. Boston Bruins
When: Wednesday Feb. 5 at 7:00 p.m. ET
Where: Madison Square Garden
How to watch: TNT
More About:New York Rangers News