Better effort but same result as Rangers lose to Bruins 3-1
The New York Rangers closed out their six-game preseason slate with a record of 1-5-0 after a 3-1 loss to the Boston Bruins on Thursday night.
“Frustated,” head coach Peter Laviolette used several times to describe his feelings after the game.
It was an awful preseason for the Rangers, who dealt with injuries to Mika Zibanejad and Artemi Panarin early on. That was followed by Filip Chytil missing almost the entirety of camp, and questionable for the season opener on October 12.
That being said, Igor Shesterkin was sharp throughout and rookie prospect Will Cuylle looks like he should make the team.
Related: Will Cuylle should start the season with Rangers
Boston Bruins 3 vs New York Rangers 1
The Rangers desperately needed a good start to this contest, and they got it.
Kaapo Kakko opened the scoring with a beautiful goal, as he converted a nice feed by Chris Kreider at the 10:14 mark. On the play, you can see a nice move by Kakko to use the Bruins’ defender as a screen and going high over Jeremy Swayman’s glove. Adam Fox registered the other helper.
“Getting the shot through the d-man is harder for the goalie,” Kakko explained. “It was a good shot.”
New York was awarded a late power play that was highlighted by the second unit’s work led by Kakko, Will Cuylle, and Alexis Lafreniere, who hit a post on the man advantage.
The pretty tally aside, the Rangers to a man were committed to adhering to Peter Laviolette’s system. That led to Igor Shesterkin only having to make one save in the period.
Boston pushed backed in the middle frame, out shooting the Rangers by a 6-4 margin. It eventually led to a power play as Jacob Trouba was called for tripping A.J. Greer on an odd man rush. Charlie Coyle was the beneficiary of a nice play by David Pastrnak, who made a play down low to even the score at one heading into the third period.
The Rangers suffered another familiar defensive zone coverage lapse as Matthew Poitras was left alone in front of Shesterkin just 73 seconds into the final frame.
Coyle would take a penalty late, as he crosschecked Kakko with 5:39 remaining. The Blueshirts sputtering power play, already 0-4 in the game, went to work. Despite a couple of strong chances by Mika Zibanejad, the score remained 2-1.
Boston, apparently not afraid of taking penalties, took another one as soon as they killed off the last man advantage. Even with the goalie pulled, the Rangers came up empty again for the sixth time in the contest.
Eventually, Greer registered the empty net goal to end the Blueshirts miserable preseason.
Rangers Notes
- Igor Shesterkin stopped 12 of 14 shots
- Kaapo Kakko was the lone goal scorer
- Will Cuylle impressed again, finishing with 4 shots and 2 hits
The New York Rangers next game will count as they head to Buffalo to open the 2023-24 season against the Sabres on October 12.
Next practice is scheduled for Saturday at 11 a.m. ET.
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