Rask, Bruins rebound against Rangers

NEW YORK -- The Boston Bruins responded with a 4-1 win against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Sunday following two straight lopsided losses.

"When you start losing a little bit and it gets a little uncomfortable, teams can go different directions," Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said. "I've always found that this team when there's a little bit of adversity will come together and not split apart."
Charlie Coyle scored two goals, Charlie McAvoy had a goal and an assist, and David Pastrnak had two assists for the Bruins (12-5-2). Tuukka Rask made 20 saves.
Boston lost its previous two games, 6-2 to the Rangers here Friday and 7-2 at the New York Islanders on Thursday.
"That's Bruins hockey for us," Coyle said. "We're a hard team to play against. We're going to get the result more times than not (when) we play that way."
Colin Blackwell scored, and Alexandar Georgiev made 31 saves for the Rangers (7-9-3).
"You've got to tip your hat to how they played, but I don't think we got inside enough, made enough plays," Rangers defenseman Brendan Smith said. "We didn't have enough offensive scoring opportunities. A lot of times when teams are, I guess, against the gun, they're going to put their best foot forward. We have to be grittier and get to those tough areas. It's hard to get there but that's how you create offense. We didn't do enough of that."
Georgiev allowed one goal on five shots before he was replaced by Igor Shesterkin (one save) following Coyle's first goal at 6:41 of the first period. Georgiev's mask cut him above his left eye when Nick Ritchie fell on top of him at 5:48, but he stayed in until allowing the goal.
Shesterkin played the rest of the first period and allowed one goal before Georgiev returned for the start of the second period.
"The NHL buzzed down and said they wanted to have him looked at for his head," Rangers coach David Quinn said. "After the first period, he was fine just like he was before the game."
Coyle gave the Bruins a 1-0 lead beating Georgiev high on the glove side with a with a quick shot from low in the left face-off circle.
Georgiev said he was not bothered by his head or the cut on the goal.
"I tried to be in the game as usual," he said. "I need to watch the video, but it seemed like a good move by the other guy. Definitely wish I could have had that one."

Trent Frederic gave Boston a 2-0 lead at 18:14 of the first with a deflection of Connor Clifton's shot.
"It helps to get a goal from Frederic like going to the net where you get the tip go your way," Cassidy said. "On the power play right before that Charlie [McAvoy] hits the post. Rebound sitting there, we take a couple whacks at it and it looks like it was going to be one of those days again, where we couldn't quite find the back of the net. But we got one."
Quinn called Frederic's goal "the backbreaker" for the Rangers.
"I thought we withstood their push early and after that, they were just a better team," he said.
McAvoy extended the lead to 3-0 at 10:20 of the second period, scoring with a one-timer from the left point.

Blackwell made it 3-1 at 10:47 of the third period.
Coyle scored a shorthanded empty-net goal from his own zone at 18:05 for the 4-1 final.
"I thought from the first shift on until essentially the last shift, it was we're going to play the same way no matter who rolls over the boards," Cassidy said. "And that's what I loved about our game today is that was our identity. We're going to play behind you. We're going to make plays off the rush. We're going to be hard. We're going to be physical. We're going to protect the front of our net, go in front of their net."
NOTES: Bruins forward Greg McKegg (three shots on goal in 11:22 of ice time) and defenseman
Steven Kampfer
(15:27) each made his season debut, and forward Karson Kuhlman (two shots on goal in 10:59) played for the first time since Feb. 1. … Pastrnak has 18 points (nine goals, nine assists) in 12 games since making his season debut Jan. 30. He missed the first seven games recovering from offseason surgery. … The Rangers tied a season low with 21 shots on goal. They also had 21 in a 1-0 loss to the Bruins here Feb. 12. … New York did not score a power-play goal for the first time in five games.
NHL.com staff writer Amalie Benjamin contributed to this report
Video: Coyle nets two in Bruins' 4-1 victory against Rangers