The Boston Bruins will try again to record back-to-back
victories for the first time this season when they visit the New York Rangers
for this afternoon's battle at Madison Square Garden.
The Bruins have alternated losses and wins since dropping a decision against
Washington to begin the season. Yesterday, Boston rebounded from Thursday's
loss against New Jersey by beating visiting Edmonton by a 2-0 score. The last
time the Bruins strung together consecutive victories was during a six-game
winning streak from March 22-April 4 of last season.
Blake Wheeler tallied the go-ahead goal early in the third period and added an
assist, while Tuukka Rask stopped all 19 shots to register his first shutout
of the season, as the Bruins blanked the Oilers at TD Garden.
Vladimir Sobotka also scored and added a helper for Boston, which ended
October with a 6-5-1 record.
Rask recorded his second career shutout in just his eighth NHL start and is
2-1-1 on the season. For the Bruins, it was their lowest shot total allowed
this season.
"I can't think of one shot I didn't see today," Rask said. "The guys did an
amazing job out there, taking the body, blocking the shots and not screening
me. Our defense made two saves out there. That's always nice to see."
Tim Thomas is expected to the start between the pipes today and is 3-4-3 in 10
career games against the Rangers.
Tonight marks the first of two straight on the road for the Bruins, who are
2-1-1 as the guest this year. Boston will visit Detroit on Tuesday.
While Boston has been trying to get something going all season long, the
Rangers struggling to regain the confidence they displayed during a terrific
start to the year. New York began the campaign with a 7-1-0 record, but have
since dropped five of their last six contests and come into today's test on a
two-game slide.
The Blueshirts were in action Friday night in Minnesota and were edged in a
close game at Xcel Energy Center. Petr Sykora had a goal and an assist as the
Wild downed the Rangers. 3-2.
Marc Staal and Dane Byers each lit the lamp for the Rangers, while Henrik
Lundqvist stopped 29 shots in the loss.
"We're costing ourselves with our mistakes," Rangers forward Vinny Prospal
said. "That's very much what's been the story on the island [in a loss to the
Islanders on Wednesday] and tonight, in here. Because when we start to gain a
little bit of momentum, we let the other team capitalize on our mistakes."
New York Rangers forward Marian Gaborik was not in the lineup for his return
to Minnesota as the winger sat out his second straight game with a leg injury.
He had spent his first eight seasons with the Wild prior to signing with the
Rangers as a free agent in the past offseason. Gaborik is doubtful for today's
game, while forwards Chris Higgins (ankle) and Sean Avery (knee) are
questionable for this afternoon's tilt.
The Rangers are 5-2-0 as the host this year and won their last game at the
Garden on Monday, pounding Phoenix, 5-2. Next up for New York is a three-game
tour of western Canada, beginning with Tuesday's stop in Vancouver.
This is the first meeting of the year between the Bruins and Rangers. The
clubs split four encounters in 2008-09, and while New York has taken three of
five in the series, the B's have won five of the last eight. Boston has
dropped three in a row and seven of eight in Manhattan.
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