One Big Takeaway From Bruins’ Frustrating Loss Vs. Rangers

The Boston Bruins began the 2025 calendar year with an embarrassing 2-1 loss to the New York Rangers on Thursday night at Madison Square Garden.

Entering the contest, New York had lost four straight and 15 of its last 19 games.

The Bruins had their chances, outshooting the Rangers 33-27 in the game, but couldn’t solve New York goaltender Jonathan Quick.

The 38-year-old netminder looked as though he had turned back time and was playing in the 2012 Stanley Cup Final, where he won the Conn Smythe as a member of the Los Angeles Kings. He turned aside 32 Bruins shots, including an amazing right-pad save on Charlie McAvoy in the second period.

Boston came strong out of the gate, but two defensive lapses in the opening frame gave New York a 2-0 lead within 3:05.

Mike Zibanejad opened the scoring for the Rangers with his first goal in eight games. After McAvoy and Nikita Zadorov crashed into each other at center ice, Jeremy Swayman tried to play the puck up the boards, but Chris Kreider collected the puck and fed Former Bruins forward Reilly Smith. Smith put the puck through the crease and onto Zibanejad’s stick for the easy tip-in.

The second Rangers goal came when Mason Lohrei committed a turnover inside the Bruins’ offensive blue line that led to an odd-man rush for New York. Brett Berard put the puck past Swayman’s glove with a snapshot from inside the hash marks.

Elias Lindholm was the lone goal-scorer for the Bruins. He potted his seventh of the season in the second period to cut the Rangers lead in half.

The Bruins complete their three-game road trip on Saturday night against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Puck drop for the Original Six matchup is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET, and you can watch the game on NESN, following an hour of pregame coverage.