East Division Update - February 26th

There was only one game in the division tonight, and as a result, this post will be short. The game had significance, however, as the Rangers hosted the Bruins at MSG with fans in the stands for the first time since the league-wide covid shut down last spring. My analysis of this one below.

(Image Credit: ESPN)

BRUINS @ RANGERS

This game was significant for the home team, as fans could now come into MSG and watch their beloved New York Rangers play live and in person. The city approved the limited attendance just a few weeks ago, and the Rangers got a boost from it. The Blue Shirts would skate to a 6-2 victory over a sliding Bruins team that has given up 13 goals in two nights. I mentioned in my last post that Boston was still the best team in the division and just lost as a fluke to the Islanders. However, this game showed a different result. The Bruins are slipping a little bit, and goaltending is a big part of that. Tuuka Rask started again for the Bruins in this one, giving up six goals on 34 shots. The Bruins have also lost 4 of their last 5, with their only win in that span being the 7-3 thumping of Philidelphia at Lake Tahoe last weekend.

Scoring:

1st Period: Rangers: Phillip Di Giuseppe, 1st of the season (Even Strength). Boston: No Goals.

2nd Period: Rangers: Ryan Strome, 6th of the season (Even Strength), Chris Kreider, 9th of the season (Even Strength), Colin Blackwell, 4th of the season (PPG). Boston: Patrice Bergeron, 8th of the season (Even Strength).

3rd Period: Rangers: Pavel Buchnevich, 5th of the season (Even Strength), Johnny Brodzinski, 1st of the season (Even Strength). Bruins: Brad Marchand, 10th of the season (Even Strength).

Standings Update After Tonight:

1. Bruins

2. Capitals

3. Islanders

4. Flyers

5. Penguins

6. Rangers

7. Devils

8. Sabers