'NHL Network Showcase': 3 Storylines for Rangers vs. Bruins

The New York Rangers and Boston Bruins face off for the sixth of eight games Saturday (1 p.m. ET; NHLN, SN, NESN, MSG, NHL.TV) in the "NHL Network Showcase presented by SAP."

The Bruins (14-6-4) are 4-1-0 against the Rangers, including a 4-0 victory Thursday. The Presidents' Trophy winners from last season are 4-5-2 after a 10-1-2 start and are in fourth place in the eight-team MassMutual East Division, three points ahead of the Philadelphia Flyers. The top four teams in each of the four divisions will qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The Rangers (10-12-3) have lost three in a row following a 6-2-0 run from Feb. 18-March 6 and are nine points behind the Bruins.
Here are 3 storylines to keep an eye on:

Life without Panarin

Artemi Panarin will likely play his first game since Feb. 20. The forward took a leave of absence and has missed nine games.
The Rangers are 4-5-0 since Panarin took his leave and are 6-for-29 on the power play in the nine games. They have scored a total of three goals in their three-game losing streak.

Secondary scoring woes

Known as "The Perfection Line," Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and David Pastrnak have combined to score 34 of the Bruins' 68 goals this season. The issue has been the supporting cast beginning with David Krejci. The forward scored his first goal of the season Thursday.
Jake DeBrusk, who has scored six points (two goals, four assists) in 18 games, entered NHL COVID-19 protocol on Saturday and will not play. He scored his second goal of the season Thursday after he was a healthy scratch Tuesday. Craig Smith has scored one goal in his past 15 games and Charlie Coyle has scored three in his past 18.

Rangers goaltending

Igor Shesterkin remains day to day after straining his groin late in a 6-1 win against the New Jersey Devils on March 4. He's 6-7-1 with a 2.31 goals-against average and .921 save percentage in 15 games (13 starts).
Alexandar Georgiev allowed four goals on 10 shots Thursday and was pulled for the second straight game for Keith Kinkaid. Georgiev allowed three goals on six shots before being pulled for Kinkaid during a 5-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on March 7. Kinkaid, who will play on Saturday, gave up three goals on 26 shots in his first start for the Rangers, a 4-2 loss at Pittsburgh on Tuesday and stopped all 13 shots he faced Thursday.