Rask up to Task, Shuts Out Rangers 1-0

The Boston Bruins and New York Rangers squared off at the Garden on Saturday afternoon. This was an afternoon that starred 21-year-old Tuukka Rask who was making his first start with Boston this season. It couldn't have gone any better for Rask as he shut down the Rangers, blanking New York for his first NHL shutout.

The Bruins opened the game with the better of the chances and just five minutes in King Lunqvist was tested by Phil Kessel who was sent on a break away. Lunqvist made the blocker stop on Kessel but the Bruins ended up on their first power play.

The Bruins and Rangers played a defensive game in the first with each team having a few opportunities for lamp lighting. The goaltenders were solid and the teams hit the locker room with goose eggs on the board.

The Bruins came out in the second flying and just a minute into the period the Bruins were really making Lunqvist work. Zdeno Chara had the best opportunity when he rung one off the post.
The Rangers took control of the period after a few minutes and Rask was up to the task of keeping New York off the board. At the end of the period a good Bruins for check led to the only goal of the game.

Milan Lucic played the body against the side wall and the puck continued back to Dennis Wideman. Wideman took a slap shot that was tipped by Marc Savard and past Lunqvist, 1-0 Bruins. The goal went under review but Toronto said that Savard's stick was below the cross bar and the goal stood. The goal was Savard's 19th of the season.

The final 22 seconds of the second period played out and the Bruins were 20 minutes away from two points.

The Bruins started the third period the same way as they had the first two, fast. Lunqvist was tested, but continued playing well and kept the Rangers in the game.

Rask was then the goalie that needed to step up down the stretch as the Rangers pressed to tie the game. The Rangers hit the post a couple of times and the Bruins faithful started getting a little restless.

New York continued to make Rask work in the final few minutes but Tuukka was up to the challenge and as time ran out Rask hopped up in the air. The youngster was clearly excited on earning his first career NHL shutout.

With the win the Bruins continued to pad their lead atop the Eastern Conference standings. Boston next plays tomorrow afternoon against the Canadiens in Montreal.