Another home-ice win as #NYR beat the Bruins tonight 5-2 @TheGarden!! pic.twitter.com/VPDKlElOP3
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) March 24, 2016
Playing on national television on NBC Sports’ ‘Wednesday Night Rivalry’, the New York Rangers put a beat-down on the Boston Bruins.
- New York Rangers 4 (42-24-8)
- Boston Bruins 2 (39-26-9)
- NHL, Final, Box Score
- Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
It’s true. At times New York Rangers defenseman Keith Yandle can be extremely frustrating.
Although he’s a defenseman, his defensive awareness can easily be questioned. Some games it seems as though he screens Henrik Lundqvist more than the opposition, and a head-scratching play late is never out of the realm of possibility.
However, when we discuss Yandle and the power play, or Yandle and the transitional game, most times he’s absolutely brilliant.
Take tonight for example. Yandle collected primary assists on the first two Rangers goals in their 5-2 dominating win over the Boston Bruins on NBC Sports’ Wednesday Night Rivalry.
Dare I say he actually looked like a former Ranger who wore No. 2 and donned the “A?”
Here’s the first beauty, coming on the power play in setting up Mats Zuccarello for his 24th goal of the season:
What a find by Yandle. Zuc makes it 1-0 #NYR. Yes Sam, "it's a PP goal!" #BOSvsNYR pic.twitter.com/Q2drUPIWOL
— Elite Sports NY (@EliteSportsNY) March 24, 2016
Then, he made a slick move, again the power play, and setup Derek Stepan for this easy backdoor slam-dunk:
Did Brian Leetch casually comeback and throw on a No. 93 jersey? Stepan, 2-0 #NYR. #BOSvsNYR pic.twitter.com/VEcGOB0bGj
— Elite Sports NY (@EliteSportsNY) March 24, 2016
Nothing was going right for the Bruins. Even when the scored, they didn’t. A Lee Stempniak goal was taken off the board thanks to an Alain Vignault challenge that resulted in a Boston offsides.
All the Blueshirts did was pour it on at that point.
Derrick Brassard slapped this beauty past goalie Jonas Gustavsson, who started the second period in relief of a semi-injured Tuukka Rask, making it 3-0:
This guy has to shoot 100 percent MORE. Nasty slap shot. 3-0 #NYR. #BOSvsNYR pic.twitter.com/J4jdM871kt
— Elite Sports NY (@EliteSportsNY) March 24, 2016
The Rangers simply controlled the play from start to finish, despite being out-shot in a major way (41-23). After Stempniak actually did get on the board later in the second period, AV’s squad kept the offensive pedal to the metal.
Ohhh JT…I love it. Come on Chara…stop it.#NYR #BOSvsNYR pic.twitter.com/U7yUGDOh60
— Elite Sports NY (@EliteSportsNY) March 24, 2016
J.T. Miller added his 20th goal of the campaign just over six minutes into the third, giving the Rangers a commanding 4-1 lead.
Henrik Lundqvist was stellar all night. He stopped 39 of the 41 shots he faced on the night. One included this beauty that was reviewed and kept no goal:
Well…there's one for the books. #Lundqvist. #NYR pic.twitter.com/2e3Mw6etx7
— Elite Sports NY (@EliteSportsNY) March 24, 2016
Rick Nash added an empty-netter late in the game, but despite the five goals, the real highlight of the night was seeing the legend perform the National Anthem prior to this important one:
Original Six? Rivalry Night? …of course it's Johnny boy who shows up….#NYR #BOSvsNYR pic.twitter.com/5L61gXSx9J
— Elite Sports NY (@EliteSportsNY) March 24, 2016
New York now has 92 points, firmly in control of the No. 2 spot in the Metropolitan Division with just eight games remaining. They’re four points clear of Pittsburgh Penguins and five points ahead of the New York Islanders (who won tonight). Both clubs have two games in hand.
Next up for the Rangers will be the Canadiens in Montreal on Saturday night.
