First Period:
- Charlie McAvoy (6) (Power Play) Assists: Pavel Zacha (20), David Pastrnak (38)
- J.T. Miller (10) Assists: Artemi Panarin (32)
- David Pastrnak (25) Assists: Matthew Poitras (7), Brandon Carlo (7)
Second Period:
- Charlie Coyle (13) Assists: Andrew Peeke (12), Brad Marchand (22)
- Pavel Zacha (12) (Power Play) Assists: Elias Lindholm (19), Brad Marchand (23)
Third Period:
- J.T. Miller (11) (Power Play) Assists: Mika Zibanejad (21), Chris Kreider (3)
- David Pastrnak (26) Assists: Matthew Poitras (8)
- Jonny Brodzinski (4) Assists: Ryan Lindgren (11), Will Borgen (4)
- David Pastrnak (27) (Empty Net) Assists: Morgan Geekie (12)
Stats:
Adam Rotter:
- A supremely disappointing performance by the Rangers in a pretty big game against a team they are chasing in the playoff race.
- This was a game from December for the Rangers where defense seemed to be optional again.
- JT Miller did his part after getting to Boston around 4AM. But it was his teammates, who hadn’t played since Tuesday, that were lacking energy, especially in the second period, and engagement for a lot of the game.
- Miller’s addition definitely shifted the lineup in ways I didn’t expect. I didn’t expect Mika Zibanejad to go to the wing, I didn’t expect the Trocheck line broken up or have Jonny Brodzinski in the lineup and at center. I’d try Miller with Will Cuylle and Alexis Lafreniere, bring Arthur Kaliyev back into the lineup and give him a shot with Artemi Panarin and Vincent Trocheck, that leaves the old Chris Kreider, Mika Zibanejad, Reilly Smith line in-tact.
- That said, Mika Zibanejad on the wing is an interesting idea if it will put him in a better position to score in the offensive zone. I guess you could try Zibanejad next to Panarin and Trocheck if they want to see what he does on the wing, but I want to see if Kaliyev can generate next to Panarin.
- I also think that Chris Kreider needs to stay on the top PP unit. I don’t think they scored on the PP early in the third just because Kreider was there, but no matter how he’s playing at even strength, on the PP he is still their best option in front of the net.
- It’s not a great performance and Igor Shesterkin wasn’t able to cover up mistakes.
- They see the Bruins again on Wednesday but they see Vegas tomorrow at MSG.