Rangers at Bruins
The New York Rangers return to the site of where their 2012-13 season ended when they visit the Boston Bruins on Friday afternoon. The Rangers, who unceremoniously were bounced in five games during their Eastern Conference second-round series with the Bruins, fell short in the rematch with a 2-1 setback at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 19. New York has won three of four on its five-game road trip - highlighted by matching a season high in goals with a 5-2 triumph over Florida on Wednesday.
Boston likely didn't enjoy its Thanksgiving after being on the business end of a 6-1 rout by Original Six-rival Detroit on Wednesday. "Everything we did (Wednesday) was just disastrous," coach Claude Julien said, stating the obvious. The loss was just the Bruins' third in their last 11 contests (8-2-1).
TV: 1 p.m. ET, NBC, TSN
ABOUT THE RANGERS (13-12-0): Henrik Lundqvist rebounded after an early exit in a 5-0 loss to Tampa Bay on Monday by turning aside 31 shots versus the Panthers. The 2012 Vezina Trophy winner has enjoyed considerable success against the Bruins, making 20 saves in the first meeting and posting a 21-8-2 lifetime mark with a slim 1.68 goals-against average. Rick Nash netted his second goal in four contests against Florida as he works his way back from a 17-game absence due to a concussion.
ABOUT THE BRUINS (16-7-2): Although he struggled mightily against the Red Wings, Tuukka Rask matched a career high with 43 saves in the previous meeting with the Rangers. Rask has dropped six of 10 regular-season games versus New York (4-3-3) but owns a 1.98 GAA and one shutout. Perhaps the lone positive in Boston's lopsided loss to Detroit was the return of defenseman Adam McQuaid from a lower-body injury.
OVERTIME
1. New York C Derick Brassard, who scored versus Florida, netted his team's lone goal against Boston.
2. After successfully killing 33 consecutive penalties, Boston has yielded a power-play goal in three of its last five games.
3. The Rangers have won seven of their last eight road contests.