3/4/11 Rangers vs. Bruins

And just like that, were back again.

Rangers against the Boston Bruins.

For the final time this season, these two rough and tumble teams will take the ice against one another. The Rangers have managed to take two of the three games played against the Bruins so far this season, most recently, Henrik Lundqvist getting his eleventh shutout of the season on March 26th in a 1-0 hard fought and brilliant game by both the Rangers and Bruins. The Rangers have fought, and fought, and fought to stay in the playoffs these past two weeks. With two more games remaining after tonight, and the standings being so close with the Buffalo Sabres ahead of the Rangers by one point, Montreal ahead by two, and Carolina sticking around two points behind the Rangers, every point matters. The Rangers proved that in another classic yesterday against the Philadelphia Flyers. In deja-vu circumstances, the Rangers went to a shootout against the Flyers like the way they were eliminated last season, only this time coming out victorious and earning that very valuable extra point. One Ranger that has caught my eye recently has been Artem Anisimov. Anisimov has been noticeable a majority of the times he's on the ice, and has been doing fairly well recently despite not scoring. Anisimov has managed to make something out of nothing in a few circumstances over the past three games, so I would look out for him to be a big catalyst in tonights game.

The Bruins have already clinched their division and a spot to go to the post-season, their only job now is getting there in one piece. Two out of the three times the Rangers have faced the Bruins this season, Tuukka Rask has been between the pipes. Rask has been the goalie that has lost both games against the Rangers this season, while Tim Thomas has the only win. Therefore, I would believe that it would only be logical for Thomas to get a start tonight due to Rask's track record.

My Diagnosis


The Rangers and Bruins are two very similar teams. Both are very physical, and have a solid foundation in the goaltending department. In fact, the Rangers and Bruins are first and second for least goals allowed this season, the Bruins getting the 1st place slot. I expect a lot of what I saw from the last meeting between these two teams: a low-scoring, hard-hitting game of hockey. Tonight is a true test of courage and grit for the Rangers, and if they execute the way they did last time, they can come out with a victory once again.

My Predictions


Rangers win 2-1.

Brian Boyle will tally the first goal for the Rangers early in the 1st.
Milan Lucic will get the only goal for the Bruins to tie it in the 2nd.
And finally, Artem Anisimov will get the game winning goal for the Rangers half way through the 3rd.

Enjoy they game, its bound to be a real doozy!