Rangers at Bruins preview: Boston will be without key players for first look at New York in a Friday matinee
The Bruins will be shorthanded Friday, with late-morning news emerging that forwards David Pastrnak and Pavel Zacha. The Bruins activated winger Casey Mittelstadt and called up forward Georgii Merkulov from Providence as corresponding roster moves.
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The Rangers have followed up a four-game skid with back-to-back wins – including a 4-2 road win against their Metropolitan Division rival Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday – to move above the .500 mark at 12-11-2.
“We’re playing with more structure,” New York coach Mike Sullivan said. “I think we’re playing with better intentions. We’ve got numbers back. I think that’s the game that’s going to give us the best chance to win.”
Here’s a preview:
When: Friday, 1 p.m.
Where: TD Garden, Boston
TV, radio: HBO Max, TNT, WBZ-FM 98.5
Line: NY Rangers -140. O/U: 6.0.
RANGERS
Season record: 12-11-2. vs. spread: 13-12. Over/under: 8-16, 1 push
Last 10 games: 5-5-0. vs. spread: 5-5. Over/under: 3-6, 1 push
BRUINS
Season record: 14-11-0. vs. spread: 18-7. Over/under: 13-12
Last 10 games: 6-4-0. vs. spread: 7-3. Over/under: 4-6
TEAM STATISTICS
Goals scored: NY Rangers 64, Boston 77
Goals allowed: NY Rangers 65, Boston 78
Power play: NY Rangers 19.6%, Boston 25.3%
Penalty minutes: NY Rangers 195, Boston 316
Penalty kill: NY Rangers 79.7%, Boston 83.7%
Faceoffs won: NY Rangers 53.6%, Boston 52.4%
Stat of the day: The Rangers are 10-4-1 on the road, but 2-7-1 at home at Madison Square Garden.
Notes: Bruins forward Alex Steeves, who played on a new-look fourth line with Sean Kuraly and Mikey Eyssimont, recorded the first two-goal performance of his NHL career in Wednesday’s victory. “I’m not thinking I’m David Pastrnak or anything all of a sudden, but it definitely gives me confidence,” Steeves said. … Goaltender Jeremy Swayman could be in line for his fourth consecutive start for Boston after making a career-high 44 saves against the Islanders. He is 7-2-0 with a .935 save percentage across his last nine starts. … Both teams are playing the front end of a back-to-back. The Bruins face the Red Wings on Saturday, while the Rangers return home to face the Lightning. … The Rangers were out-shot, 38-18, by the Hurricanes on Wednesday.
Information from Field Level Media and Stats, Inc., was used in this report.
Matt Pepin can be reached at matt.pepin@globe.com.
