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The old adage in hockey is “the two goal lead is the hardest to defend in hockey.” The saying rang true for the Boston Bruins Saturday night.

The New York Rangers halted the Bruins win streak at five, coming from behind to beat the B’s 3-2 in a shootout. The Rangers improve their record to an NHL-best 13-5-2, while Boston falls to 10-3-4.

The game remained scoreless through one period, with the Bruins out-shooting the Rags 11-6 in the frame. The tables were turned in the second period, with New York putting 12 shots on Bruins netminder Tim Thomas, all of which were turned away. Boston only managed 7 shots in the stanza, but were economical with their chances, potting two goals against Rangers star Henrik Lundqvist.

Bruins captain Zdeno Chara started the scoring for the B’s, capitalizing on a rebound off a Phil Kessel shot 8:44 into the frame. Kessel received a pass from Marc Savard in the slot and wasted no time in putting the puck on net, and the resulting rebound found Chara’s extensive reach in the left circle, where the hulking defenseman deposited the puck behind Lundqvist to give the Bruins a 1-0 lead.

Four minutes later, the Bruins would extend their lead to 2-0, in the most unlikely of circumstances.

With Chara whistled off for a hooking penalty, Boston found themselves down a man against a strong Rangers power play unit. Unfazed, Bruins penalty killer Stephane Yelle forced New York defenseman Michal Rozsival to turn over the puck, delivered the puck to Savard, who in turn made a nifty back-handed pass to defenseman Dennis Wideman. Wideman, filling in on the first unit for Chara, fired a wrist shot over Lundqvist’s shoulder for his fifth tally of the season. The goal put the Bruins ahead 2-0, where the score would stay heading into the third period.

Unfortunately for Boston, the aforementioned adage regarding two-goal leads rang true once again, as the third frame was all Rangers, with the boys on Broadway holding a decisive 10-3 shots advantage.

It appeared as if the Bruins might sneak out of New York with two points for most of the period, as Thomas made a number of saves to keep the shutout in tact. However the Rangers effort would pay off with 6:05 left in the game, as forward Nigel Dawes beat Thomas with a wrister from one knee to cut the lead in half.

Boston still managed to hold the lead until the final minute of the game, when Brandon Dubinsky delivered a pass to Markus Naslund, who beat Thomas with a shot with just 55.2 seconds left to play.

The score would remain tied through overtime, forcing a shootout, an event which has dogged Boston for much of this young season. Coming into the game, Boston was just 1-3 in the format, with the Rangers checking in at 2-1.

All four Boston shooters were turned away by Lundqvist, and Rangers captain Chris Drury won it for New York, putting a shot five-hole past Thomas.

Boston travels to Toronto on Monday to take on the Maple Leafs. The puck drops at 7:30 pm EST, with coverage on Versus beginning at 7:00 pm.

Inside the Game

• New York out-shot Boston 31-25 in the game, including 25-14 from the 2nd period on.
• Chara led all skaters in ice time, logging 30:27 in the game.
• Wideman’s goal was the first shorthanded tally of the year for Boston.
• David Krejci was just 3-10 in the faceoff circle.

Stud of the Game

Dud of the Game

Tags: Bruins, Dennis Wideman, Marc Savard, Mark Stuart, New York Rangers, Zdeno Chara