In the highly anticipated preseason opener the Boston Bruins faced off against the New York Rangers, setting the stage for what promises to be an exciting hockey season. Both teams showcased their talent and potential as they geared up for the challenges ahead. This matchup not only provided a first look at the rosters but also highlighted key moments and standout players that will shape the narrative of the season to come. Here are the key notes from Boston's preseason opener against the Rangers:
Bruins Lineup:
F: Riley Tufte (#10), John Beecher (#19), Fabian Lysell (#23), John Farinacci (#32), Patrick Brown (#38), Georgi Merkulov (#42), Cole Koepke (#45), Mark Kastelic (#47), Trevor Kuntar (#61), Riley Duran (#62), Jaxon Nelson (#64), Vinny Lettieri (#95)
D: Mason Lohrei (6), Parker Wotherspoon (#29), Andrew Peeke (#52), Billy Sweezey (#58), Frederic Brunet (#59), Jordan Oesterle (#82)
G: Brandon Bussi (#30), Michael DiPietro (#80)
PP1: Lohrei, Lysell, Merkulov, Farinacci, Tufte
PP2: Duran, Letteri, Oesterle, Brunet, Koepke
Rangers Lineup:
F: Leschyshyn, Groulx, Brodzinski, Kakko, Blidh, Vesey, Sykora, Cuylle, Scanlin, Belzile, Chytil, Othmann
D: Schneider, Mackey, Robertson, Fitzgerald, Mancini, Chmelar
G: Domingue, Garand
1st Period Notes:
- Koepke scores off a rebound, shot taken by Billy Sweezey
- Kastelic called for an offensive zone penalty (tripping)
- Nelson goes for a PK rush after stealing a breakout pass by the Rangers
- B's kill off the penalty
- Lohrei activates off the rush, sets up Duran for a scoring chance
- Tufte draws a slashing penalty as he uses his body to shield the puck
- Duran draws a cross-checking penalty, Bruins go on a 5-on-3
- PP units look rusty, B's look content with perimeter chances
- Poor coverage by Nelson line leads to NY goal
- Wotherspoon shaken up after a late neutral zone collision with Othmann (NYR)
- Kastelic gets called for another offensive-zone tripping penalty
- NYR scores on the PP
- Solid looks for Peeke, hits the post, sets up a teammate for a slot chance
- Brown line out battles their opponents to create quality puck possession time in the o-zone
- Kastelic levels a Rangers d-man
- Kuntar levels a Rangers forward
- Weak forecheck by Lysell (doesn't take the body nor the puck), has looked a bit invisible so far
- Oesterle looks solid offensively and through the transition game, but was walked on a 1-on-1 by Chytil
- DiPietro relieves Bussi halfway through the second
- Brown shields the puck, shoots, Kuntar taps in the rebound
- Great shift by the Koepke line, they outskate their opponents to create quality scoring chances
- Bruins dominant final five minutes of the second period
- Wotherspoon drops the mitts with Othmann, takes him down (picks up a 2-minute minor for unsportsmanlike)
- Koepke gets an interference penalty to put NY on a 5-on-3
- Peeke sacrifices the body to make a PK clear
- Bruins kill off the 5-on-3, they do a good job of keeping NY on the perimeter
- DiPietro gives up a poor goal from a bad angle
- Former Bruin, Anton Blidh takes a roughing penalty
- Bruins fail to record a shot on the power play, they struggle to gain zone entry
- Boston calls timeout and pulls the goaltender with 2:33 remaining