Rangers vs. Bruins Preview: A Shot at Redemption and a Wake-Up Call at the Garden
If there's ever been a night for the New York Rangers to show some fire, some grit, and maybe a little pride, it's Monday at Madison Square Garden. The Boston Bruins are in town - the same Bruins who humiliated the Rangers just over two weeks ago with a 10-2 drubbing in Boston.
That one stung. And if that kind of loss doesn’t light a fire in the locker room, what will?
But this isn’t just about payback. For the Bruins, this game carries real playoff weight.
Boston currently holds the second wild card in the Eastern Conference and is nipping at the heels of both Montreal and Buffalo for third in the Atlantic Division. Every point matters in that race.
The Rangers, meanwhile, are staring up from the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings. With a .462 points percentage, they’re the only team in the East below the .500 mark.
Their minus-23 goal differential is the worst in the conference, and their five home wins are tied for the fewest in the entire league. Simply put, it’s been a rough ride.
A Tale of Two Teams Since New Year’s
Here’s the thing - back in December, the Rangers and Bruins were in a similar spot. Boston had 44 points, New York had 43. Neither was lighting the world on fire, but both were still hanging around the playoff picture.
Fast forward to January, and the Bruins have found another gear. They’ve gone 9-2-0 this month, including a six-game win streak capped by tight 4-3 wins over Vegas and Montreal. They’re clicking, and they’re doing it at the right time.
The Rangers? Not so much.
They’ve dropped eight of their last nine (1-7-1) and are just 2-7-1 in January. They were swept on a three-game California road trip, finishing it off with a 3-1 loss to the Sharks.
Things have gotten so dire that GM Chris Drury publicly acknowledged the need to “retool” the roster just 10 days ago. That’s not exactly the kind of midseason message you want to hear if you're a player trying to fight your way back into contention.
3 Key Storylines to Watch
1. Readiness from the Drop of the Puck
This has become a recurring issue - the Rangers just aren’t starting games with the kind of urgency you need in the NHL. They’ve allowed 14 goals in the opening five minutes of games this season, including seven in January alone. That’s not a stat you want to lead in.
Against the Sharks, they gave up two goals in the first 3:08. Earlier in the week, they allowed one just 18 seconds into the game against the Kings.
Captain J.T. Miller insisted the team was ready to play, but acknowledged they lacked the intensity their opponents brought.
Head coach Mike Sullivan didn’t sugarcoat it.
“I think we have to have a readiness from the drop of the puck,” he said after the San Jose loss. “Lately, we haven’t had the best starts, so I’ve got to do a better job preparing them for it.”
And the numbers back him up. The Rangers are 5-20-4 when giving up the first goal and 4-12-3 when trailing after one period.
Even scoring first hasn’t guaranteed success - they actually struck first in that 10-2 loss in Boston. So the issue runs deeper than just the scoreboard.
It’s about mindset, and right now, this team’s confidence is fragile.
2. Pastrnak’s Dominance Against New York
David Pastrnak is once again doing David Pastrnak things. He’s tied for sixth in the NHL with 64 points (21 goals, 43 assists) in 47 games, and he’s riding a six-game point streak with nine points over that span.
And when it comes to the Rangers, he’s got their number.
He torched them for a career-high six assists in that 10-2 blowout earlier this month. That’s after missing their first meeting in November with an injury.
In 38 career games against New York, Pastrnak has piled up 18 goals and 46 points. He’s now just three points shy of 900 in his career and is one point away from tying Rick Middleton for sixth all-time in Bruins history.
If the Rangers want any shot at redemption, slowing Pastrnak down has to be priority number one.
3. Back to Work After a Snow Day
The Rangers didn’t skate Monday morning thanks to Sunday’s heavy snowfall. They returned from San Jose ahead of the storm, but the weather still disrupted their usual game-day routine.
Boston, on the other hand, had no such issues. They traveled to New York right after Saturday’s win over Montreal and should be fresh and focused.
Before puck drop, the Rangers will host another installment of their Centennial Celebration, honoring the Legendary Blueshirts from 1991-94. Unfortunately, Sunday’s Alumni Classic was postponed due to the snowstorm.
Projected Rangers Lineup
Forwards:
- Gabe Perreault - J.T.
Miller - Mika Zibanejad
- Artemi Panarin - Vincent Trocheck - Alexis Lafrenière
- Brennan Othmann - Noah Laba - Will Cuylle
- Anton Blidh - Sam Carrick - Taylor Raddysh
Defensemen:
- Vladislav Gavrikov - Braden Schneider
- Carson Soucy - Will Borgen
- Matthew Robertson - Scott Morrow
Goaltenders:
- Jonathan Quick
- Spencer Martin
The Bottom Line
This game won’t change the Rangers’ season overnight, but it’s a chance to show some fight, to respond to adversity, and to remind fans - and themselves - that there’s still pride in putting on that sweater. For the Bruins, it’s another step in their playoff push, and they’re not likely to take their foot off the gas.
The stage is set: Monday night at Madison Square Garden. Puck drops at 7 p.m.
ET. Let’s see who shows up.