In Boston, Jeremy Swayman made 15 saves in a 4-0 shutout of the New York Rangers on Thursday night.
“You’ve got to take care of business and play to your strengths,” Boston head coach Bruce Cassidy said. “So obviously tonight we’re a good defensive team. Want to make it hard on teams, get that message out there, which I’m sure it already is. But reinforce it, and I thought we did that.”
New York has lost five in a row and more importantly, lost any will to put up a fight.
Patrice Bergeron and Charlie McAvoy (power play) scored for the Bruins in the first period.
“I think we’re trying to build our game towards the playoffs,” Bergeron said. “You know [the Rangers are] a good team that skates well, that has a lot of talent. But tonight it was about us making sure we’re playing the way that we want to play and everyone contributing.”
Jake DeBrusk extended the lead to 3-0 in the middle frame.
“We didn’t lay down,” Rangers head coach David Quinn said. “I know the shots were what they were and it looked ugly at times, but these guys competed their [rear ends] off. There’s a lot of good here right now, and it’s just unfortunate that we’re in this position right now. It just doesn’t feel good, but it’s the situation we’re in, and these guys didn’t lay down tonight.”
Brandon Carlo added the salt to the wound with 67 seconds gone on the fresh cut ice of the third period.
“To see his confidence where it’s at, he’s a tremendous player and it means a lot to this group,” McAvoy said of his fellow defenseman. “So to have him back and see him playing well and being a big part of it is awesome.”
Igor Shesterkin made 30 saves in the loss.
“It’s definitely tough,” New York’s Zac Jones said. “I mean, everything that’s been going on in the organization the last couple days, but we tried to put that in the back of our minds and not really think about it at all and just go out there and do the best to play our game and try to win every night.”
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