FINAL: Rangers 7, Bruins 4 - B's defense a big problem today

The Bruins fell to the New York Rangers 7-4 at Madison Square Garden on Saturday afternoon. With this loss, the Rangers have taken over first place in the NHL standings with points percentage. The big problem today was the lack of defense for the B's. This is the first time Boston has lost back-to-back games since last March. 

The Bruins got off to a brutal first period when Nick Bonino scored at the 5:58 mark to make it 1-0 New York. Chris Kreider added a goal on the power play at the 10:56 mark to make it 2-0 Rangers. The Bruins did not have a shot on goal until the 12:37 mark of the first period. Jim Montgomery quickly called a timeout and Boston answered the call as Charlie Coyle scored at the 13:50 mark to make it 2-1. Shortly, after, Morgan Geekie scored at the 14:14 mark to make it 2-2.

 The Blue Shirts answered back as Kreider scored his second goal of the game, this time short-handed, at the 18:41 mark to give New York a 3-2 lead going into the first intermission. 

Boston answered back :26 into the second period as David Pastrnak scored on the power play to tie it at three. 

The Rangers put their foot on the gas and did not look back when Jimmy Vesey scored at the 16:37 mark to make it 4-3 New York. Boston gave up another late period goal in the second period at the 19:36 mark, this time to K'Andre Miller to make it 5-3 Rangers. 

New York scored again early in the third period at the 1:26 mark as Tyler Pitlick scored his first goal of the season to make it 6-3. Charlie Coyle scored at the 2:29 mark to answer back which made it 6-4 Rangers. New York put the finishing touch on at the 4:38 mark when Artemi Panarin scored to make it 7-4 Rangers. 

Linus Ullmark finished the day with 33 saves on 40 shots. 

The Bruins will continue their road trip in Columbus on Monday night to face the Blue Jackets with face off set for 7p.m. 

BIG TAKEAWAYS:

• Bruins were sleepwalking throughout most of this game. Only exception was when Montgomery called timeout and they quicly tied it 2-2. 
• Boston's defense was brutal today giving up seven goals. Not fair to criticize the goaltending when the defense was nonexistent.
•  Bruins continue to give up late period goals. 

_____________________________________

WHO: Bruins (14-2-3) at Rangers (14-3-1)
WHEN:1p.m. 
WHERE: Madison Square Garden, New York City. 
TV: NESN
RADIO: 98.5-FM The Sports Hub
LIVE BOX SCORE
ROSTERS

Marchand-Zacha-Pastrnak
Van Riemsdyk-Coyle-Frederic
Heinen-Poitras-DeBrusk
Lauko-Beecher-Geekie

Grzelcyk-McAvoy
Lindholm-Carlo
Forbort-Mitchell

Ullmark
Swayman

RANGERS
Kreider - Zib - Wheeler
Panarin - Trocheck - Laf
Cuylle - Bonino - Kakko
Vesey - Goodrow - Pitlick

Miller - Trouba
Lindgren - Gustafsson
Jones - Schneider

Quick
Igor

PREGAME NOTES

The Bruins face the New York Rangers in an Original Six matchup today at 1p.m. The B's are coming off a 5-2 loss yesterday at TD Garden to the Detroit Red Wings. 

Matt Grzelcyk returns for Boston today as Patrick Brown and Mason Lohrei were sent down to Providence. Jake DeBrusk has been heating up with goals in two straight games. James Van Riemsdyk is one assist away from his 300th career NHL assist and Charlie McAvoy is also one assist from his 200th career NHL assist.  

The Bruins face a Rangers' team that is coming off a win in Philadelphia yesterday and have won four-straight games at MSG. Artemi Panarin leads New York in points (26) and Chris Kreider leads the squad in goals (11). The Rangers have wins in six of its last seven games and points in 13 of its last 14 games (12-1-1). The Rangers’ 14 wins are tied for the most in the NHL with Boston and Las Vegas. New York has the third best power play (29.8) and have scored power play goals in 13 of their first 18 games. The Rangers are 11-for-11 on the penalty kill over the last two games. 

Blake Wheeler started out in the NHL with the Bruins from 2008-09-2010-11. Ryan Lindgren was selected by Boston in the second round of the 2016 NHL Entry Level Draft. Kevin Shattenkirk played for the Rangers from 2017-18 and 2018-19. Jake DeBrusk is the son of Louie DeBrusk, drafted by the Rangers in third round of the 1989 NHL Entry Draft. He was later traded to Edmonton for Mark Messier.Charlie McAvoy is a native of Long Beach, New York and was a Rangers fan growing up,  idolizing Brian Leetch. His sister is the Rangers' assistant sports scientist Kayla McAvoy.