Recap: Rangers Double Down on B's for 3rd Consecutive Win

When asked about an ideal follow up to the Rangers exciting comeback win on Tuesday, Peter Laviolette suggested a better first 55 minutes from the team. He certainly got that out of this group as the Rangers got off to a fantastic start in the opening period and carried that momentum throughout the entirety of the outing to pick up their third win in a row to remain perfect this preseason. 

Here’s how the team lined up for Preseason Game #3:

Kreider - Zibanejad - Smith

Cuylle - Chytil - Kakko

Erne - Brodzinski - Othmann

Vesey - Carrick - Edström

Mackey - Fox

Miller - Trouba

Jones - Mancini 

Quick/Domingue

1st Period:

After a very slow, mostly uneventful start, the Bruins took the first penalty of the game close to seven minutes into the opening period. As Marc McLaughlin was sent off for tripping Filip Chytil, the Rangers rolled out a top power play unit of Chytil - Zibanejad - Kreider - Fox and Smith. After 30 seconds of scrambling to get anything generated, the Rangers drew another penalty which sent Nikita Zadorov off for cross-checking, both penalties drawn by Chytil. 

With Zibanejad and Chytil going back and forth at the point, Chytil finally decided to let the shot go with Kreider parked in his usual spot. Brandon Bussi had the initial save but Kreider was right there in front of the net to feed the loose puck over to Adam Fox who was wide open on the left side of the net to put the puck away to make it 1-0. 

As the Rangers tried to find another goal with their second power play unit, Will Cuylle took several cross-checks to the back from Trevor Kuntar which resulted in Jonny Brodzinski going after him, sending the two off for coincidental minors. 

Around the seven minute mark of the period, a great shift from Chytil, Othmann, Cuylle and Jones, Miller at the point generated some strong offense. However with just about five minutes to go, a Rangers turnover resulted in a good one-on-one opportunity for Boston’s Brett Harrison. Harrison was able to breeze right around Connor Mackey and snuck a bit of a softie through Jonathan Quick to tie the game up, 1-1. 

The Rangers best chance to regain the lead came late in the first following a great effort from Chytil that found Kakko right in the slot. His quick shot was a bit too much as the stick snapped right in half upon releasing the shot and Bussi was able to keep hold of it for a whistle. However on that very next shift, an offensive zone face-off win from Zibanejad ended up on the stick of Jacob Trouba who let a slap shot go that tipped off the stick of Kreider to make it a 2-1 game. 

That wouldn’t be all for the Rangers to wrap up the first. An outstanding individual effort from Brennan Othmann outworked Zadorov to steal the puck in the neutral zone to send himself on a perfect breakaway opportunity. A simple, yet effective forehand-backhand-forehand shot sailed right past Bussi on the glove side to extend the lead, 3-1. A great reward for an overall strong period from the Rangers youngster pushing to make this team’s opening night roster. 

A great start for the Rangers as they took a 3-1 lead to the first intermission, out-shooting the Bruins 16-5.

2nd Period:

The Rangers carried that momentum into the second as they dominated the first two minutes in the Bruins end of the ice. Another player that was off to a noticeable start in this one was Kakko as he certainly wasn’t shying away from shooting the puck, accounting for four of the Rangers 16 in the opening stanza. 

Just over five minutes into the second, a good defensive play from Victor Mancini sent the puck to the Bruins end of the ice. Jonny Brodzinski batted in his own rebound off a feed from Othmann behind the goal line to make it a 4-1 game. 

With roughly six and a half minutes to go, a shot from Drew Bavaro at the point took a pinball like deflection through traffic that touched Mark Kastelic last to go off the post and in, bringing Boston within two. 

With three minutes to go, Connor Mackey took a big hit from Kastelic that left the Rangers defender particularly unhappy. The two dropped the gloves for what became another short-lived scrap but the intensity was certainly building. On the following shift, Victor Mancini nearly had his second of the preseason as he executed a nice give and go on a pinch attempt but was shut down by Bussi.  

The intensity continued towards the end of the second as Will Cuylle laid a big hit on Kuntar right after letting a shot go. This left the two tangled up after the whistle but not enough to escalate to anything immediate. A pair of goals from either side left the score 4-2 in favor of the Rangers heading into the final period. Shots through forty were now 28-12 Rangers. 

3rd Period:

Louis Domingue would take over the Rangers net to start the third and got off to a good start with a tremendous save on a one timer right at the doorstep about five minutes in. He would continue to be sharp for the Blueshirts throughout the early parts of the third which fell more on the uneventful side. Just over the midway point of the third, Mancini gave the Bruins their first power play opportunity of the night as he was called for holding against David Pastrnak. 

No harm no foul on the man advantage, although there were certainly some close calls as the Bruins had a scramble in front of Domingue with one shot ringing off a post. A couple of minutes later, the Rangers headed back to the penalty kill as Chris Kreider took down Parker Wotherspoon behind the Bruins net. Once again, the Rangers were able to stand tall and keep the Bruins from converting as time continued to dwindle. 

With two and a half to go, the Bruins pulled Bussi and right off a face-off in their own end, Adam Edström was able to send one down the ice and into the empty net to make it a 5-2 game to seal the deal. Another solid exhibition outing from the Rangers with Brennan Othmann and Kaapo Kakko being two of the standouts. Zac Jones had another strong night on the back end with Mancini having his moments as well. A bit of an underrated shoutout to local guy Adam Erne as well. He may not have stood out as much as others but he had some jump to his game and played well, picking up an assist on the Brodzinski goal. 

The Rangers will have the weekend off but are back at it Monday Night in Newark as they’ll pay a visit to the New Jersey Devils.