Another road game in the books, the second of four on this trip, Tuesday night’s 2-1 shootout loss to the New York Rangers proved to be an interesting battle of goalies. Igo Shesterkin provided the challenge in the Rangers net, and Boston’s Jeremy Swayman nearly matched him save for save. For New York, it was their first game back on ice in two weeks, showing obvious rust in the first period when Charlie Coyle put the puck behind Shesterkin at 3:39 to open the scoring. The second period had the Rangers storming Swayman and the Boston net to even up the shots on net at 17-17, after the locals had only allowed two New York shots on net in the first period. The Bruins were able to ride Coyle’s lone goal into the third period with a 1-0 lead. A rebound goal by Ranger Filip Chytil at 6:45 of the third period enabled New York to take the game into overtime. This was not a game without some weird moments, most notable was the removal of Shesterkin with 41 seconds remaining in the overtime, due to a call from NHL headquarters citing concussion protocol. Replaced in net by backup goalie Alexander Georgiev, New York was able to hold off the Bs who could not get a single shot on Georgiev, who came in cold to the game, to close out the overtime. An almost laser-like return saw Shesterkin having completed the concussion protocol in the team’s dressing room, and return to the ice in time for the start of the shootout. The shootout was a marathon of sorts, going nine rounds before K’Andre Miller taking his first ever shootout attempt, hit the back of the net behind Swayman, giving the Rangers the hard-fought 2-1 win. The contest featured many highlights by both goaltenders, none bigger than Shesterkin’s glove save on Taylor Hall’s breakaway a 8:42 of the third period.
The Bruins were looking to carry over their momentum of Swayman’s 2-0 win over the Ottawa Senators last Saturday, and actually had a somewhat decent game, when you consider that they were still lacking the presence of captain Patrice Bergeron due to a head injury, (possible return tonight vs. Islanders), and sniper Brad Marchand, in the midst of his six-game suspension. The return of Matt Grzelcyk to the blue line was a lift, but not enough to hold off the Rangers who are having an impressive season with a 31-13-4 record to date, good enough to hold the third spot in the Metropolitan Division, just four points back of the division-leading Pittsburgh Penguins, and holding two games in hand. Bruins upcoming road schedule has two games remaining on the road, and will have some tests in store. Tonight’s (Thursday, 7:30pm) matchup features the New York Islanders with former Bs captain Zdeno Chara currently out of a playoff spot (7:30pm); Saturday night the Bruins will be hosted by the Ottawa Senators (7:00pm) – the Sens are in seventh place in the Atlantic Division, and will be seeking to avenge their 2-0 beat down by Boston a week ago.
With their road trip in the rear headlights, the Bruins will return home on Monday (1:00pm), enjoy some home cooking, then prepare to take on one of the hottest teams in the NHL, the Colorado Avalanche – who have a record of 34-9-4 – to lead the Central Division, and hold the top spot in the NHL The Avalanche, at press time were 8-1-1 in their last ten games, and their current road record is 13-6-2 – along with an excellent home ice record of 21-3-2.
Bruins Defenseman Brandon Carlo Leads Boston Bruins 15th Annual Pj Drive
The Boston Bruins and the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners teamed up with Bruins defenseman Brandon Carlo, Cradles to Crayons and Wonderfund Massachusetts, to present the 15th Annual PJ Drive, which will run until March 31. The PJ Drive benefits Massachusetts’s children in need by providing new, unused pajamas to babies, children and teens in communities across the state. Both Cradles to Crayons and Wonderfund Massachusetts are non-profits committed to ensuring positive living conditions for children in need. Carlo will lead this year’s PJ Drive for the first time since former Bruin, P.J. Axelsson, and his wife Siw started the initiative during the 2007-08 season. Since then, over 120,000 Massachusetts children have received PJs through the Bruins PJ Drive. The Bruins will also host an in-game PJ collection on Thursday, March 10, when Boston hosts the Chicago Blackhawks at 7 p.m. at TD Garden. Fans who donate new, unused PJs or $10 at this game will be entered in a raffle to win Bruins autographed prizes. Fans can register their own organization to be a PJ Drive donation site. The top three organizations with the most donations will receive Bruins prizes. Fans can learn more about the PJ Drive by visiting BostonBruins.com/PJDrive.