The Boston Bruins iced some inexperienced defensemen for Game 1, but it didn't hurt them through the first period as they outshot the New York Rangers 11-8. The game remained scoreless at the first intermission.
Bruins vs. Rangers Game 1 update: Henrik Lundqvist keeps it scoreless in first period
Henrik Lundqvist hasn’t given up a goal in seven periods.
Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Thanks to injuries to Andrew Ference, Dennis Seidenberg and Wade Redden, the Bruins had to include young Matt Bartkowski and Torey Krug on the blueline. Krug is 22 and has three NHL games to his name. Bartkowski is 24 and has 20 games, plus two playoffs games in the first round. The Bruins also nearly traded him for Jarome Iginla a month ago.
Krug was kept to just 3:22 of ice time in the period, but Bartkowski logged 8:17, second only to team leader and noted minute muncher Zdeno Chara’s 8:43.
Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist, who is coming off two consecutive shutouts to close out the Washington Capitals, was strong again and faced the only dangerous chances in the period.
On one occasion, Lundqvist benefited from the Boston crowd howling as the puck lay unattended behind his legs. The all-star goalie reacted quickly after hearing that cue, kicking his legs back to cover the puck and end the threat before Milan Lucic could reach the puck:
Also of note, Michael Del Zotto may have dodged an injury when this Patrice Bergeron shot deflected up off his stick and hit him in the ear.
There have been several puck-to-face injuries drawing blood this season, with Rangers defenseman Marc Staal is still out of the lineup from such an injury two months ago. So Del Zotto can consider himself lucky he turned and only took this puck in the side of the head.
More in the NHL:
See More:
