Preview: Bruins visit New York to face skidding Rangers
01/02/2025 07:00 AM
"Skidding" is one word for it.
Just the facts
When: Tonight, 7 PM
Where: Madison Square Garden - New York, NY
How to follow: NESN, 98.5 The Sports Hub
Opposing perspective:Blueshirt Banter
Know your enemy
- 16-19-1, 33PTS, 8th in the Metropolitan Division
- Artemi Panarin: 16G-23A-39PTS; Adam Fox: 1G-27A-28PTS; Will Cuylle: 11G-13A-24PTS
- Igor Shesterkin: 11-15-1, 3.10 GAA, .906 save percentage
Game notes
- After ending 2024 against a Metro opponent, the Bruins will begin 2025 against another Metro team — albeit one currently experiencing very, very different vibes from the Washington Capitals.
- Yes, it has been a dumpster fire of a season for the New York Rangers to this point, as last year's President's Trophy winners are currently the fifth-worst team in the NHL. The Rangers have lost four in a row and are 2-8-0 in their last ten games.
- To make matters worse, their star goalie, Igor Shesterkin, may be heading to injured reserve after getting bundled by Sam Bennett last time out.
- After trading Jacob Trouba, trading Kaapo Kakko, scratching Chris Kreider, and more, the Rangers have pulled a lot of levers. They've also routinely scratched defenseman Zac Jones, who wasn't shy about sharing his feelings with Larry Brooks.
- Vincent Trocheck, another one of those guys who I feel like always scores against the Bruins, has 2G-3A-5PTS totals in his last five games.
- This likely won't be the game the Bruins' power play, which was horrific on Tuesday, gets back on track: the Rangers boast the league's second-best penalty kill.
- Power play aside, Tuesday's effort was a pretty decent one from the Bruins, one they could build on with another solid performance tonight. Given the Rangers' current situation, plus the injury to Shesterkin, this is a game the Bruins should win.
- There's not much else going on with the Bruins at the moment, really — kind of a "ho, hum" stretch at the moment (i.e. no real behind-the-scenes turbulence or roster intrigue), which isn't a bad thing.
See ya tonight!
