BOSTON – The Bruins knew they welcomed a weathered opponent to Causeway Street Thursday night. The New York Rangers arrived after losing four straight times just 24 hours earlier, including an emotional, battle-filled grudge game against the Washington Capitals – a loss that came shortly after the club’s front office was shaken.
Boston made sure to take advantage of the situation and showed a flawless team performance with a 4-0 win over the Blue Shirts at TD Garden, behind the goals of Patrice Bergeron, Charlie McAvoy, Jake DeBrusk, and Brandon Carlo.
Brad Marchand and David Krejci also added two templates apiece while Jeremy Swayman made 15 stops on his second career shutout.
“We’re trying to align our game with the playoffs,” said Bergeron, who has now scored four games in a row. “”[The Rangers are] A good team that skates well and has a lot of talent. But tonight was about making sure we play the way we want to play and that everyone is contributing. And I thought we did that. “
Video: Swayman, Bruins Empty Rangers, 4-0
Another Swayman shutout
Swayman didn’t see much action at the end of the rink but still made stops on every 15 strokes he had for his second shutout of the season. The 22-year-old is now 7-2-0 with 1.44 goals against the average and a percentage saving of 0.946 in nine games.
“He’s having a great time and is playing well,” said McAvoy. “Seeing his demeanor, how he does it and how he carries himself – he loves having fun on the rink. It’s great. It’s contagious. For him, it’s proof of where he is in his is Career a year away from college.
“Just seeing him come in and make the impact he has was great. His attitude is great, it’s not on the charts. He’s always smiling, he talks a lot on the ice, which is helpful for the D-men . He’s got a damn it and great to play. “
Bruin’s coach Bruce Cassidy praised the club’s strong defensive efforts ahead of Swayman, led by a perfectly healthy D-Corps with McAvoy, Carlo, Matt Grzelcyk, Mike Reilly, Jeremy Lauzon, and Kevan Miller all together for the first time in the line-up.
“Well defended. Not played recklessly. Couples seemed to work well together,” said Cassidy. “Reilly-Carlo is one [pairing] we hadn’t seen. I got into it a bit in Jersey, liked what we saw so I figured we’d move on. And then Lauzy and Grizz can switch depending on the opponent, the course of the game, time and score. They both played with Charlie, Lauzon not so much with Miller. But of course it could be a tough pair to play against.
“That’s what we’re focusing on right now. That’s why we went this trail tonight. I thought they moved the puck well for the most part, and if they could read each other as we walk down this track – and again, some of it Chemistry was there and some of it is developed here late in the day-to-day operations.
“We did a really good job in front of our goalkeeper. We didn’t give up much tonight. Obviously a team came in here that went through an emotional process [on Wednesday]. Still, you have to play the game and I thought we did a really good job before him.
Video: NYR @ BOS: Swayman, Bruins Empty Rangers, 4-0
Carlo goes to the bank
Carlo looked strong and confident in his first two games after an oblique injury that cost him over a month and was rewarded with a happy rebound in the third half. The blue liner, which scored five shots on goal in the season, pushed against the wall after Krejci won and sent the puck from the goal line towards the front of the net.
Craig Smith waited at the left post, but the puck never made it when it rattled off Shesterkin and hit Carlos’ third goal of the season only 1:07 in the final.
“BC is a big part of our backend,” said McAvoy. “He’s so good on the defensive and to see him getting pucks in the net in the last few games and playing in the O-zone is great to see his confidence where it is. He’s a great player and means a lot to this group. To have him back and see him play well and be a big part of it is great. “
Carlo, who played Ice Age at 8:15 p.m., had Reilly as a partner for the first time.
“Brandon is eager to play and get back into the mix,” said Cassidy. “He closes like everyone else, he’s a little fresher. He liked his offensive instincts tonight. Obviously the face-off targets, the D-Dive game we play a lot but are only in play. Reilly moves the puck well, he’s been a little off the ice so it’s got his legs under him for him and it gets to the combat level where it needs to be for playoff hockey for the next week.
“All in all, they both have good characteristics for size and good clubs. Of course, Brandon is more of a defender and Reilly is the puck mover, but they can complement each other there too.
“Reilly is a decent defender and Brandon – when he skates – moves the puck well in my opinion. I like what they did tonight. Again a small sample size, but it’s a positive move.”
Video: NYR @ BOS: Carlo makes it 4-0 with a goal in the 3rd.
McAvoy blows one up
McAvoy hasn’t seen much time with the # 1 power play unit lately, but he made sure he took his opportunity with them on Thursday night. After Grzelcyk was knocked out for a change, McAvoy jumped on, took a Marchand feed, and shot a one-timer past Rangers goalkeeper Igor Shesterkin, who came out of circles for the fifth time a year, leading 1:25 with 2: 0 left Boston in the first period.
“Usually, I and Grizz switch each other. There are times when he’s been playing the shift and there’s a penalty and you have to get back out and go, you know you’re coming quickly,” McAvoy explained. “Regardless of what unit you’re out there with, you want to be stable on top and spread the puck well. I was just trying to do that. We took a happy break. I think they lost a man and maybe even a stick. I only read the piece from there, the ice cream that I had. “
Video: McAvoy talks about B’s victory over Rangers
DeBrusk breaks through
After skating Thursday morning, DeBrusk met with the media and admitted that the game isn’t that fun for a goalscorer if the puck doesn’t go into the net. The winger had made 13 games since placing one behind the goalkeeper, but he broke through against the Rangers with a silky finish on a runaway in the second period that put Boston 3-0 ahead.
“We’re trying to get him to help us win,” said Cassidy. “Tonight’s goal, read well by him, to get behind her D on an upturned puck in the D-zone cover. Good job, good stick, started with [Taylor] Hall. Krejci saw Jake leave … good move by Jake.
“He had a similar opportunity in Jersey the other day and the goalkeeper saved. But at the end of the day I’ll have more if he can keep up with some goals and help us win in other areas of the game.” Fun exercising and hopefully having more fun playing. “
Video: NYR @ BOS: DeBrusk extends the lead with an outlier goal
