Bruins Wrap: Boston’s Grit Not Enough In OT Loss To Rangers

BOSTON — Just 24 hours after the Bruins took a thrilling shootout win over the Islanders, Boston went to overtime for a third straight game Saturday night and fell to the New York Rangers, 2-1, in the extra frame at TD Garden.

The Bruins dropped to 19-5-5 while the Rangers, who are in first place in the Metropolitan Division, improved to 21-7-1.

Check out the full box score here.

ONE BIG TAKEAWAY
On the second leg of a back-to-back and without two of their better players in Pavel Zacha and Charlie McAvoy, who are both out with injuries, the Bruins had a built-in excuse to take a night off against one of the better teams in the league.

And that was before star David Pastrnak was sent off the ice with a game misconduct with 1:50 left in the second period for a hit that sent Ryan Lindgren into the boards.

But even with those three major absences, the Bruins banded together and delivered a gritty performance that came up just short. It was fitting that this type of performance came on the night when the franchise honored the Lunch Pail A.C. — a time when the Bruins were known for their physical play.

The Bruins hearkened back to that era against the Rangers, playing with a physical style and putting their bodies on the line. But it just wasn’t completely enough to take down a talented Rangers team.

STARS OF THE GAME
— Vincent Trocheck scored the game-tying and game-winning goals to lift the Rangers to a win.

— Trent Frederic personified the Lunch Pail “Era Night.” The bruising 6-foot-2, 204-pound forward opened the scoring with a dirty goal in front of the net 2:07 into the second period and later in the frame dropped the gloves with Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba.

On Gordie watch. pic.twitter.com/op5DJ61Jz3

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) December 17, 2023

— Jeremy Swayman was steady between the pipes, making 32 save.

WAGER WATCH
FanDuel Sportsbook set the odds of James van Riemsdyk registering an assist at +215. Reimsdyk set up Frederic for his 14th helper of the season as a $100 wager on the prop bet would have netted a total of $315.

UP NEXT
The Bruins are back in action Tuesday night against the Minnesota Wild. Puck drop from TD Garden is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET, and you can watch the game, plus an hour of pregame coverage, on NESN.