Tuukka Time: Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask was in the zone stopping 43 shots lifting them past the Rangers 2-1.
AP Photo/Kathy Willens

There are moments when a goalie steals the show. Tuukka Rask was the story. His 43 saves upstaged the return of Rick Nash– allowing the Bruins to skate away with a 2-1 win over the Rangers at Madison Square Garden. It was the caliber goaltending we’ve grown accustomed to from Henrik Lundqvist. He was good making 20 saves. However, Rask carried a tired Boston club to victory sending disappointed fans home.

In many aspects, it was a mirror image of last Spring. Even with the Bruins on their heels throughout, their goalie was superior while the Ranger offense sputtered. More and more, it’s become the norm even with a new coach. Make it three consecutive games they failed to score more than a goal. Since Alain Vigneault benched Mike Del Zotto, they’ve lost two of three and scored only twice. Another brilliant move was dressing Benoit Pouliot over J.T. Miller. Did he even play? Par for the course when it comes to this organization.

At least Nash was flying. He looked great taking 23 shifts (17:55) and registering five shots. He definitely didn’t show much rust skating well and getting dangerous scoring chances. He wasn’t alone. Chris Kreider was all over the ice getting four shots on Rask. That included a penalty shot on an early power play 6:16 into the contest. Unfortunately, he was stifled by Rask. That was how the entire game went. The Rangers played a strong first outshooting the Bruins 16-6. But had nothing to show for it.

The second was eerily similar. They continued to pepper Rask from every direction. It didn’t matter. In particular, he kept robbing Kreider. The agonizing thing about the game was his brilliance allowed the Bruins to steal two points. They took it thanks to a couple of miscues. The first was a turnover at the Boston blueline, leading to a three on two. With two of our players hustling back, they gave Shawn Thornton the angle against Lundqvist. It’s what you’re taught to do. Unfortunately, Thornton roofed one past Hank’s glove for the game’s first goal. I got into a debate with another Rangers follower on Twitter. He claimed it was a “perfect shot.” Perhaps. But it’s Shawn Thornton. It was one Hank should’ve had.

Some of our fans believe that the power play has improved. It definitely gets more looks but that doesn’t necessarily make it better. Given another chance following a David Krejci goalie interference, that great power play allowed a shorthanded goal to another playoff ghost. Ryan McDonagh lost control of the puck at the point allowing Greg Campbell to chip it to Daniel Paille for a mini-break. He had no trouble beating Lundqvist on a backhand deke. It was a back breaker. Sure. Derick Brassard responded immediately with a great wrist shot 1:01 later cutting the deficit in half. I called him and John Moore out. They responded. Maybe I should do that more.

The problem was that Paille shorthanded goal doomed them. Rask was red hot and had some luck thanks to a couple of goal posts. When a goalie’s hot and the team fails to score consistently, it puts even more pressure on Lundqvist to be perfect. He wasn’t. So, they dropped another crucial game in the standings and didn’t even earn one of those NHL specials because this team can’t force overtime against anyone. But Vigneault’s coaching. So, what’s the issue? I guess he really had to have Justin Falk in for 16 shifts (10:18) over a more skilled defenseman in Del Zotto. Nothing against Falk, who gave them energy with four hits and four blocked shots.

This is about a coach who doesn’t get it. Sitting our most gifted offensive D hurts more than helps. He continues to overuse McDonagh on the power play. I love McDonagh but he’s not a power play quarterback. I have no idea what Vigneault’s doing. He says he wants to create more offense from the blueline. Del Zotto is the only guy on the roster who’s had a 10-goal 41-point year. That was in ’11-12 under John Tortorella when the team advanced to the Conference Final. Are they ready to give up on him? My guess is as good as yours.

The most frustrating aspect of tonight was that the team competed hard. They gave max effort. They also didn’t back down from the Bruins’ goon tactics. Dan Girardi went back at Milan Lucic after getting plowed. Brian Boyle leveled Zdeno Chara following a hit. Mats Zuccarello went back at Chara, who was busy swinging his stick against our midget. Classy. Brad Marchand only received two minutes for cross checking Zuccarello. He knew exactly what he was doing. But because Zuccarello’s tough, he got two and the league will not discipline him. Sometimes, I can’t stand how poorly it’s run.

There was a lot to like despite the loss. How about Derek Dorsett beating Campbell? Boyle jawing with Thornton before a faceoff. Zuccarello not backing down because he’s got guts. That’s a big positive. They have to stick together. With a five-game road trip starting in Dallas Thursday, their character will get tested. When they finally return home for Tortorella’s Canucks at the end of the month, we’re going to find out a lot about them. What kind of team do they want to be?

BONY 3 Stars:

3rd Star-Rick Nash, NYR (5 SOG, 6 missed attempts-looked sharp)

2nd Star-Chris Kreider, NYR (4 SOG, missed penalty shot-all over ice)

1st Star-Tuukka Rask, BOS (43 saves with many spectacular)