RECAP: Bruins earn first shutout of the season in 1-0 win over the Rangers

The Boston Bruins shut down the New York Rangers with a 1-0 win at Madison Square Garden tonight and extended their point streak to ten games.

First period:

Well, the period got off to a slow start. The Bruins got their first shot of the game about four and a half minutes in and would be outshot during the period 10-6.

Neutral zone possession was in favor of the Bruins and they did a nice job carrying the puck through center ice to break into the offensive zone, even though they didn’t do much once they got there.

The silver lining of the first 20 minutes was Jaroslav Halak. He came up big on the penalty kill and made an important save on a shot from Kaapo Kakko following him coming out of the box.

Second period:

Things looked better in the second and a couple big fights changed the energy in the game. Shots greatly favored the Bruins 18-6 for the frame and that got started off the bat with a nice chance from Patrice Bergeron to get some momentum going.

The Bruins took the lead at 9:27 in the second period. David Krejci skated the puck up the left side and through center ice to find Nick Ritchie entering offensive zone on the right side. Ritchie carried the puck up the boards and backhanded a shot along the goal line and put in his one rebound low past Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin, to put the Bruins up 1-0.

And after that, things got chippy and would continue that way for the rest of the period. First up, Trent Frederic and Brendan Lemieux dropped the gloves following the goal.

Then Brett Howden tried to pick a fight with Brad Marchand.

And finally, Jeremy Lauzon and Pavel Buchnevich had their go at it- and both were assessed game misconducts in addition to their fighting majors.

In-between all the shenanigans, the Bruins had some decent scoring chances from Sean Kuraly’s line, a drive from Kevan Miller and a just missed connection between Marchand and David Pastrnak.

Third period:

Given the nature of the second period and Frederic’s taunting of another round with Lemieux, the third period had a much slower pace. Through the first 11 minutes, each team had three shots apiece.

The biggest takeaway was the strength of the penalty kill in the last minute of the third. Brandon Carlo and Kevan Miller killed time along the end boards during the 6-on-4 advantage for the Rangers in their last attempt to even the game. Overall, the penalty kill didn’t give the Rangers any chances on their six power plays of the night.

Although he wasn’t challenged much in the third, Halak’s performance earned him the shutout - his 51st of his career - and another REGULATION WIN.