BSJ Game Report: Rangers 2, Bruins 1 (SO) - Swayman/Shesterkin shine, but Boston comes up short in shootout

NEW YORK — Everything you need to know from the Bruins’ 2-1 shootout loss to the Rangers with BSJ insight and analysis:

Box Score

HEADLINES  

B’s come up just short in goalie duel: Given the multiple hurdles that have come Boston’s way over the last week-plus, the Bruins will absolutely take a hard-earned point on the road against a team like the Rangers.

Still, in the immediate aftermath of Tuesday’s 2-1 shootout loss, many of the Bruins likely have to be kicking themselves that they were unable to land a knockout punch earlier, because Jeremy Swayman certainly deserved a better fate after a standout showing in net (33 saves on 34 shots). 

Granted, Swayman’s counterpart on the opposite end of the MSG ice in Igor Shesterkin also didn’t blink in what was a good ol’-fashioned goalie duel — with both netminders keeping their respective teams in the contest, especially during a frantic overtime and prolonged shootout that carried over into nine rounds.

Yes, the Bruins are likely steamed that they were unable to push another goal across, but a performance like this from Swayman – especially against the Vezina favorite in Shesterkin — sure seems like a pretty solid silver lining to take away from a game that felt like a playoff bout. 

Bruins avoid scare with Coyle: Already without their top-line pivot in Patrice Bergeron, the Bruins lost their de-facto 2C for most of the second period, with Charlie Coyle exiting the game after cutting himself on Swayman’s skate less than a minute into the second frame. 

Thankfully, the Weymouth native was back on the ice to start the third and seemed no worse for wear, noting postgame that he just needed a few stitches. Losing Coyle would be par for the course given Boston’s recent misfortunes, especially with that second line of him, Craig Smith and Trent Frederic gaining some traction as of late.

Even after both Bergeron and Brad Marchand return to the B’s lineup, it wouldn’t come as much of a surprise if Bruce Cassidy keeps this trio intact as a heavier third line moving forward.

TWO UP

Charlie Coyle: One of the (many) positives to take out of the strong play of this Frederic-Coyle-Smith line? Coyle becoming far more assertive in the offensive zone. The pivot has a knack for deferring quite a bit, but look what happens when he drives to the net. A rebound chance is there to be cashed in, which Coyle did just 3:39 into the contest. 

Jeremy Swayman: Swayman will want back that rebound chance that Filip Chytil buried to knot the score up at 6:45 in the third, but the Bruins wouldn’t have even been in a position to leave MSG with two points if it wasn’t for their rookie in net. Just spectacular netminding from both him and Shesterkin all evening. 

THREE DOWN

Mike Reilly: Reilly has benefited from earning more reps with Charlie McAvoy, but the puck-moving blueliner still had a few D-zone stumbles on Tuesday night. Not a good look for Reilly to be sprawled out on the ice as Chytil tucked his second-chance attempt past Swayman.

David Pastrnak: Not a great night for Pastrnak and this de-facto top line, which seems to have hit a wall now that Bergeron and Marchand are on the shelf. Be it a number of poor turnovers, an ugly power play in which he routinely ran into a wall of skaters at the offensive blue line and an uninspired shootout attempt … it was a rough night at the office for No. 88. 

The shootout: Yes, both Coyle and Jake DeBrusk managed to beat Shesterkin in the early going of the shootout. But after that, the Bruins weren’t able to generate much of anything over nine arduous shootout rounds — with plenty of attempts easily turned aside by the Rangers goalie. Would have liked to have seen a skilled young forward like Jack Studnicka get a shot there. 

PLAY OF THE GAME

QUOTE OF NOTE

"Yeah, he hasn't been here long, but he kind of plays like he has, which is a great thing." - Charlie Coyle on Jeremy Swayman

LOOSE PUCKS

Good to see Taylor Hall throw his weight around … just not against a teammate. 

Also, pretty wild that Shesterkin gets pulled by a concussion spotter near the end of overtime, only to return literally just minutes later before the shootout begins. Quite the turnaround, to say the least.

 LOOKING AHEAD

The Bruins will continue their four-game road trip in New York — with Boston heading to Long Island to take on the Islanders Thursday night. Puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m.