The injury-plagued Bruins weren't able to compete with the New York Rangers on Saturday afternoon as the Rangers cruised to a 3-1 win in a game that was not as close as the score indicated.
Shawn Thornton and Donald Brashear got things going early when the two dropped the gloves 2:01 into the game. Thornton landed a few shots on the big enforcer before wrestling Brashear to the ice.
Michael Del Zotto made it 1-0 Rangers 7:56 into the game when he weaved his way through the offensive zone with the puck, got to the front of the net untouched and slipped the puck past Tim Thomas for his 6th goal of the season.
The Bruins were awarded the rare opportunity to take a penalty shot when Marco Sturm was hauled down with 5:10 left in the opening period, but Sturm could not convert on the penalty shot.
The Rangers increased their lead to 2-0 when Brandon Dubinsky went to the net and put home his own rebound for his 8th goal of the season at 10:16 of the second period.
Erik Christensen made it 3-0 when the Bruins couldn't clear a rebound in front of the net and Christensen picked up the puck and fired a wrist shot that beat Thomas top shelf.
Dennis Wideman finally got the Bruins on the board with 3:44 left in the game. David won a draw in the offensive zone back to Zdeno Chara, who slid the puck to Wideman in the high slot for a big slapper to end Henrik Lundvist's hopes of shutting out the B's.
The late goal by Wideman seemed to give the B's some juice late in the game, but ultimately the effort came a little too late.
Notes:
- Marco Sturm became the first player in Bruins history to attempt 4 penalty shots.
- The already banged-up Bruins had a bit of a scare when Daniel Paille went down the tunnel after blocking a shot off the leg in the first period. Paille return to start the second period.
- The Bruins did register a shot on goal in the second period until 10:33 into the period.
- The Bruins were out-shot 34-30
- The Bruins once again looked lost in their own zone. The Rangers were given way too much time and space today.
- The Bruins will be back in action on Wednesday when they kick off their 3-game West Coast trip with a game against the Anaheim Ducks.