By: BNG Website Staff | Follow us on Twitter @BlackNGoldPod
Bruins & Rangers Both Excelling In Unforgiving East
Barring a major second-half collapse by any team, it looks like the New York Rangers and Boston Bruins will both be back in the 16-team postseason for the first time since 2017.
The Rangers were added to the expanded 24-team playoff format for the 2020 bubble, but the Carolina Panthers swept them in the qualifying round. So if you exclude the brief bubble run, the Rangers haven’t made the playoffs since 2017.
Boston, on the other hand, is gearing up for a sixth straight postseason appearance. And there’s a legitimate possibility that the Blueshirts and B’s will meet in the playoffs for the first time since 2013.
Through Jan. 19, the Rangers sat atop the Metropolitan Division with 56 points. The Bruins were holding the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with 46 points — five behind the Toronto Maple Leafs for the No. 3 seed in the Atlantic Division.
Among NY sports betting apps, the Rangers are a top favorite to win the East and contend for the Stanley Cup.
Through three months of 2021-22 regular season play, how do the two rivals stack up against one another? Let’s take a deep dive.
Bruins Finding Their Game After Sluggish Start
A 4-1 road loss to the New York Islanders back on Dec. 16 dropped the Bruins to 14-10-2 on the year. Up until that point, Bruce Cassidy’s squad had failed to piece together a winning streak of more than three games.
But Boston has been scorching hot in the New Year. They went 8-1-0 in their first nine games in January before suffering a brutal 7-1 home loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Jan. 18.
After recovering from offseason hip surgery, veteran mainstay and goalie Tuukka Rask agreed to a one-year deal with the B’s. Boston now has a steady goaltending tandem in Rask and Linus Ullmark, who signed a four-year deal worth $20 million in free agency.
Once again, the Bruins’ offense has been primarily carried by the “Perfection Line” of Patrice Bergeron, David Pastrnak, and Brad Marchand. Through Jan. 19, they were the only three Boston players to have double-digit goals and at least 30 points.
The lack of secondary scoring has been a problem for a while, but the Bruins have gotten stellar play from Taylor Hall. Norris Trophy candidate Charlie McAvoy has also contributed immensely on offense, racking up 24 points through his first 33 games.
The problem for the Bruins is that they play in a gauntlet of an Atlantic Division. The Maple Leafs, back-to-back Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning and powerhouse Florida Panthers will be tough to catch in the Atlantic Division.
So there’s a real good chance that unless one of those three teams collapse in the second half, Boston will have to settle for a wild card berth. That means lacking home advantage for the postseason, which isn’t ideal.
Rangers Exceeding Expectations Under Gerard Gallant
The Rangers made some progress last season but still missed the postseason by a considerable margin. Ownership made sweeping changes, moving on from well-respected GM Jeff Gorton and head coach David Quinn.
Chris Drury was hired for the GM role, and former Panthers and Vegas Golden Knights head coach Gerard Gallant was named the new bench boss.
As usual, the Rangers have gotten tremendous offensive production from superstar defenseman Adam Fox, do-it-all forward Artemi Panarin, and consistent veterans Mike Zibanejad and Chris Kreider.
But the main difference under Gallant? Defense and goaltending.
Igor Shesterkin is enjoying a breakout year for the Blueshirts, posting a superb 18-4-2 record through his first 24 games with a phenomenal .938 save percentage and 2.03 goals-against average to go along with three shutouts.
Through 40 games, the Rangers allowed the second fewest goals per game (2.45) and boasted the No. 3 penalty kill (85.2).
Scoring simply isn’t an issue for the Rangers. But it’s really the sound defensive structure and elite goaltending that has helped them make the jump to the NHL’s elite this season.
The Bruins are about where most expected them to be: In contention for a wild card spot or No. 3 seed in the Atlantic.
But the Rangers have undoubtedly surpassed expectations in year one under Gallant, and the best part? Their championship window is really just opening now.
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