Two teams that have enjoyed stays atop the NHL standings this season and currently pace their divisions go head to head for the second time when the Boston Bruins host the New York Rangers on Saturday night.
Both sides will be completing a back-to-back set after taking opposite paths to Friday victories.
The Atlantic Division-leading Bruins remained atop the conference standings by capping a two-game road swing with a come-from-behind, 5-4 shootout win over the New York Islanders.
Boston trailed 2-0, 3-2 and 4-3.
“We fought back every time we went down,” Boston rookie defenseman Mason Lohrei said. “It just shows you the kind of group we have. … These guys are so calm and collected. They’ve been here before. A lot of great players. It’s cool to be a part of that.”
Boston grinded without defenseman Charlie McAvoy and forward Pavel Zacha, who landed on injured reserve this week due to upper-body injuries.
Bruins coach Jim Montgomery indicated that both players were progressing in their recovery.
“Both are special players, but I guess if I have to pick one (area where they are most impactful), I would say on the power play, because they’re both two of the five guys that are out there on our first unit,” Montgomery said.
Without two stars, Boston got a 33-save effort from Linus Ullmark, three power-play goals and Lohrei’s game-tying tally from a tight angle with 3:09 left in regulation to stay in the game against the Islanders.
David Pastrnak, Morgan Geekie and James van Riemsdyk all finished with a goal and an assist before Charlie Coyle and Pastrnak scored in the shootout to lead Boston in a game it they never led until the end.
Montgomery called it the team’s biggest win of the year.
He said of the team’s willingness to battle, “It’s everything. It’s our fiber, right? It’s that we compete hard, we play good defense and we’ve got ourselves an opportunity every night to have success.”
The Metropolitan Division-leading Rangers entered their 5-1 win over the visiting Anaheim Ducks on Friday in a season-worst slump of three losses in a four-game span. Included in that span was a 7-3 setback to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday, when Igor Shesterkin allowed six goals on 29 shots.
“(The tough stretch) is where you learn about yourself and … what it takes to ultimately continue to be successful,” New York forward Blake Wheeler said. “We know it’s going to take the same (effort) and even better to keep this going, because the better you do, the more teams are going to focus in on and try to bring their best game against our team.”
New York responded well, using a run of five unanswered goals to become the NHL’s second 20-win team this season. The Rangers reached that mark in 28 games, tying the franchise record set by the Stanley Cup-winning 1993-94 season.
Chris Kreider scored twice on Friday to move into third place on the Rangers’ all-time goals list with 281, passing Adam Graves (280). Kreider also reached 500 career points, and Adam Edstrom scored in his NHL debut.
Edstrom was recalled from AHL Hartford earlier Friday to replace Nick Bonino (illness). Jimmy Vesey, who scored the game-winning goal in the second period, was originally questionable to play after taking a puck to the face in practice during the week.
The Rangers piled up 39 shots and scored twice on the power play.
“When we’re moving things fast — the puck, our minds, our legs — and when we’re competing on pucks hard, that’s when we’re at our absolute best,” Rangers coach Peter Laviolette said.
Boston swept last season’s three head-to-head meetings, but New York struck first this time with a 7-4 home win on Nov. 25.
–Field Level Media
