The Rangers scored a power-play goal in overtime en route to a 3-2 win over the Boston Bruins. Mats Zuccarello provided the game-winning goal. The Bruins were in the box for too-many-men during OT.
For this game, the players decided to celebrate the holidays and arrived at TD Garden in festive suits. There were some interesting ones, to say the least, but everyone was waiting to see what Brad Marchand was wearing. He didn't disappoint.
However, it will be tough to leave work wearing ridiculous suits if they lose to the Rangers.
"We have to have a good game and hopefully it goes well. It's tough if you dress like fools and don't play well," Marchand said.
When asked if he has a backup suit just in case they don't get the result they want, Marchand said: "No. Birthday suit."
Don Cherry would be impressed with the Bruins' attire.
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Tuukka Rask started. He entered the game with a 9-8-3 with a 2.29 goals-against average and a .922 save percentage in 21 career games against the Rangers.
Henrik Lundqvist started his second game in as many days. He made 33 saves during a 4-2 win over the Kings last night at Madison Square Garden. Lundqvist is 26-12-2 with a 1.93 GAA, a .936 SP and has six shutouts in 40 career games against the Bruins.
Bruins forward Ryan Spooner returns to the lineup, so Anders Bjork will be a healthy scratch. Spooner will play the right side with David Krejci and Jake DeBrusk.
Bjork has struggled of late, so this could be good timing for the rookie to watch from press level.
"It worked for Jake, just taking a deep breath and watching from up top," said Bruce Cassidy. "There's a lot that goes into it. You can see the game from a slower pace up there and how much room you have. Sometimes it's a matter of, 'I don't want to be back up here again, so I'm going to fix whatever I need to fix the next time I'm in there.' Just understand that it's not automatic you're going to be in the lineup every night."
Observations from overtime
- Another too-many-men penalty for the Bruins. They tried to cheat with the Rangers in transition and the ref caught it.
- Going to overtime.
- Communication breakdown and now the Bruins are called for too-many-men.
- Danton Heinen does so many things right.
- Torey Krug just outmuscled Rick Nash.
- Incredible pass by David Pastrnak to Brad Marchand for the power-play goal to tie it at 2-2.
- Terrible power play to begin the period.
- Cassidy has David Backes with Patrice Bergeron and Marchand.
- Once the Bruins are back to even strength, I'd put Danton Heinen with Bergeron and Marchand, and reunite Pastrnak back with Krejci.
- With the way Lundqvist is playing tonight, Bruins need to capitalize on this power play.
- Another tough night so far for Brandon Carlo. Another turnover nearly leads to a goal for the Rangers. He may get a game or two in the press box once Adam McQuaid returns to the lineup.
- Rangers are doing a good job of spreading out the ice against the Bruins.
- J.T. Miller with a burst of speed and you could hear him yelling for the puck six stories off the ice and he finishes with a power-play goal to give New York a 2-0 lead.
- Rask is not as positionally sound as he normally plays.
- Rangers get a lucky bounce as the puck ricocheted off the back glass, hit Rask in the back and bounced in. New York with a 1-0 lead. Prior to that goal, the Rangers had two players floating in the neutral zone. That kept Matt Grzelcyk and Kevan Miller back, which allowed a clean breakout for the Rangers.
- With 7:13 remaining in the first period, the Bruins have only five shots, but they've missed the net about 10 times already. Stop being too cute and get the puck on the net.
- Zdeno Chara keeps his size 12 skates moving and draws a penalty. The Bruins have scored a power-play in the last four games.
- The wrap-around is a lost art, but David Pastrnak is pretty good at it. Nearly beats Lundqvist on an attempt.
- Lundqvist is so much fun to watch.
- Even though the goal was overturned because DeBrusk was offside, still got to give Spooner credit for going to the front of the net to receive that pass from Torey Krug.
- Pastrnak enters tonight with a nine-game point streak.