The Bruins picked up their fourth consecutive loss Wednesday night, and they did it despite outshooting the New York Rangers 41-24. For the Rangers, it was their second consecutive victory over an Atlantic Division opponent.
Mats Zucarrello and Derek Stepan scored power play goals 3:02 apart in the opening frame -- both of which were assisted by future Bruins defenseman Keith Yandle. Tuukka Rask, who faced just 6 shots in the first period, did not return to the game in the second period due to the same illness that held him out of yesterday's practice. Jonas Gustavsson tended goal in the games final 40 minutes.
Derrick Brassard greeted Gustavsson 5:26 into the middle frame, forcing a turnover at center ice, skating into the B's zone and blasting a slapshot by Gustavsson.
The Bruins answered when Patrice Bergeron batted a puck down in the Rangers zone and found Brad Marchand in front, who then dished to Lee Stempniak for the tap-in. The goal, which counted, should have been Stempniak's second on the evening.
NHL: The only place in the universe where physics doesn't apply, and objects in motion just stop and turn around. pic.twitter.com/b3F998RhLx
— Dan Ryan (@bruinshockeynow) March 24, 2016
Lovin' them replays.
The Bruins had a flurry of chances on a power play late in the second period, but Henrik Lundqvist played the way he always does against the Bruins; damn good.
J.T. Miller scored for the Rangers in the final period, shooting the puck off Kevan Miller's knee and into the net. Stepan picked up an assist on the goal, his third point of the night.
Frank Vatrano, who should never not be in the Bruins lineup ever again for all of eternity, scored his seventh goal of the season, blasting a Loui Eriksson feed past Lundqvist. It's almost like this kid is good or something.
Rick Nash added the Rangers final goal, an empty-netter, and I made my way into the kitchen to make a glass of chocolate milk. I drank the milk in the kitchen because, frankly, I was tired of this game. This team is consistently inconsistent and it's driving me insane.
The Bruins return to action tonight against the Florida Panthers at TD Garden. Perhaps a win tonight, eh fellas?