After a dominating performance against the Boston Bruins on Friday night, the Rangers will try to do it all again when they host them for the final time this season (12:00 P.M. ET, NBCSN).
| Rangers | East Division Ranks /8 | Bruins |
| 7-8-3 | Record | 11-5-2 |
| 6th | East Ranking | 2nd |
| 7th | GF/PG | 4th |
| 2nd | GA/PG | 3rd |
| 8th | PP% | 3rd |
| 2nd | PK% | 1st |
No Panarin, no problem. The Rangers exploded for six goals – the most they have scored in a single game this year. The Blueshirts had contributions from all parts of the lineups with six different goal scorers including Phil Di Giuseppe, Ryan Strome, Colin Blackwell, Chris Kreider, Pavel Buchnevich, and Jonny Brodzinski. Di Giuseppe’s goal was originally ruled as Julien Gauthier’s second of the season and Blackwell and Kreider scored in a 12-second span. Friday was the first home game of the season and it did not disappoint.
“Standing there for the national anthem, I had some goosebumps and energy that I hadn’t felt (this season),” said Strome.
“It was great… During the anthem, it sounded like 20,000 – not 2,000,” said defenseman Adam Fox. “It was awesome to have them here. They gave us a spark.”
And the Rangers will look to do it all again, but this time it’s not expected to come as easy. Boston has lost 4 of their past 5 games and four-in-a-row in games that have been played in an arena. The Bruins have also conceded 13 goals in the past two games. With a team as good as Boston, the Rangers have to assume they are going to be pissed off and have some urgency to snap the skid.
Like the Rangers, the Bruins continue to deal with injuries, especially to the defense. Kevin Miller and Jeremy Lauzon remain out for Boston. Matt Grzelcyk last played on February 10th against the Rangers and he has returned to practice as a full participant. Grzelcyk could be used in case of an emergency but Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy listed him as doubtful for Sunday afternoon.
Boston also claimed 6’6 Jarod Tinordi off waivers. Tinordi played seven games this season with Nashville before being dropped to waivers and eventually claimed. Tinordi won’t be available for Boston this afternoon due to travel and COVID protocols.
Like Grzelcyk, Filip Chytil continues to practice as a full participant and his return is imminent. Rangers head coach David Quinn said Chytil won’t play Sunday afternoon and he expects the exact same lineup. Chytil’s next chance to return for the Rangers will be on Tuesday against Buffalo.
For just the second time this season, Alex Georgiev will make a second consecutive start. Georgiev was victorious against the Bruins on Friday and is 2-0-2 in his past four starts.
“It’s always a competition,” Quinn said. “The plan is to play the guy who gives you the best chance to win. Georgie’s played well. He’s got 6 out of his last 8 points… He hasn’t played two in a row, I don’t think, in a while. I wanted to give him an opportunity.”
Projected Lineup
Lafreniere-Zibanejad-Buchnevich
Kreider-Strome-Blackwell
Lemieux-Howden-Gauthier
Di Giuseppe-Rooney-Brodzinski
Lindgren-Fox
Miller-Smith
Hajek-Bitetto
Georgiev
