After scoring a season-high six goals on Friday night, the New York Rangers could only muster one goal, falling 4-1 to the Boston Bruins.
The Bruins looked more like a first-place team after losing four of their last five. They did not allow the Rangers to get many solid scoring chances, and only giving up a Colin Blackwell goal in the third period.
After the game, Brendan Smith said in his post-game Zoom conference that “They came out playing pretty hard. They defended really well. You’ve got to tip your hat to them.”
New York Ranger’s goalie misses a large part of the first period due to an injury
In the first period, the Bruin’s Nick Ritchie “fell” on Ranger’s goaltender Alexandar Georgiev during a scramble in front of the net. Georgiev has a cut around the eye and required some medical attention before returning to play.
However, after Charlie Coyle scored the first Boston goal, Georgiev was removed from the game due to concussion protocol and was replaced by Igor Shesterkin. Georgiev returned for the second period and finished the game.
In his post-game interview, Georgiev said that he is ok and that the injury did not have any impact on Coyle’s goal.
Head coach David Quinn was asked after the game why Georgiev was not pulled directly after the injury. “I was told he was OK, so we kept him in.” Quinn said “(Head trainer Jim Ramsay) worked on him and said he was fine. Then the NHL buzzed down and said they wanted to look at him.”
Whether or not the fall on Georgiev was accidental, Brandan Lemieux made it very clear that it was not appreciated. Lemieux and Ritchie engaged in a little scrum at the closing minutes of the third period.
Shesterkin was tagged with the loss, giving up one goal on two shots. Georgiev ended the game with 31 saves.
The Rangers return to action Tuesday night when they host the Buffalo Sabres.