The Bruins were hoping to make a statement in tonight's game against the Rangers before heading out on a six-game road trip. But instead all they got was a couple of bruises and another goal-less game.
After the last game between these two ended in overtime, just one goal separating them, tonight was a much different story.
And that story was Henrik Lundqvist.
The 29-year-old goaltender not only picked up his seventh shutout of the season, but he did it while recording 42 saves this time around. He is now first in the league in save percentage (.941) and second in goals against (1.77).
The Bruins had more than a few quality chances in those 42 shots, but Lundqvist was a wall and stopped every one of them to give his team a shot at the win. His team, though, did start if off right.
In the first period, Ryan Callahan most appropriately started the scoring for the Rangers, picking up his sixth goal in four games, and his 23rd of the season. he received a pass from Michael Del Zotto who passed the puck right through the slot and to his stick.
Though that would have been enough to collect the win, the Rangers continued to rally and with 12 seconds left to go in the period, they scored again, courtesy of Ryan McDonagh sending the Bruins into the locker room with double the deficit.
The Bruins then proceeded to completely annihilate the Rangers with shots on goal, outshooting them 14-5 in the middle frame, and 42-20 in the entire game. Tim Thomas made just 17 saves on the night and dropped to 6-7-1 in his last 14 games.
Finally, in the third period, the Rangers were able to put the nail in the coffin and seal the deal less than three minutes into the final 20 minutes.
2:53 into the period, Artem Anisimov waltzed right in with a 2-on-1 and wristed it past Thomas for his 10th goal of the season. The goal was a 4x4 goal after Milan Lucic and Brandon Prust were shoving each other after the whistle near the benches and were called for unsportsmanlike conduct.
On the goal, Joe Corvo tried to pinch in on the puck in the Rangers zone, but was intercepted by Anisimov who took it into the Bruins paint and fired it on Thomas who couldn't make the stop.
The Bruins now fall nine points behind the Rangers in the Eastern Conference and face a six-game road trip to finish up the month of February. The next time they play at the Garden is on February 28, when they take on the Ottawa Senators.
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