After 40 minutes the score was 2-2, and the Bruins were able to make up a 1-2 deficit with 7:27 minutes left in the second quarter thanks to a backhand shot by former BC Eagle Trevor Kuntar.
Cole Koepke, a former Lightning prospect who was signed as a free agent this summer, scored the Black and Gold’s first goal of the preseason just 1:34 into the first period. The 6-foot-1 left winger buried a rebound after Hanson’s Billy Sweezey (Nobles/Yale) hammered a point shot past Rangers goalie Louis Domingue.
The Rangers, who had fewer shots on goal in the first two periods (24:13), took the lead midway through the first period on a goal by Victor Mancini, followed by Filip Chytil’s power-play goal 1:13 before the first intermission.
Brandon Bussi, the favorite to take the No. 2 spot if Jeremy Swayman is not signed, left the court as scheduled midway through the second period, conceding two goals in 30:18 and being replaced by DiPietro, who was acquired from the Canucks in October 2022 in exchange for Jack Studnicka.
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Bruins defenseman Parker Wotherspoon left the ice early after being tripped by Brennan Othmann near the Rangers bench. Wotherspoon, who was briefly assisted on the ice by the coaching staff, made his way down the tunnel with 7:18 left in the first period. He was back on the bench early in the second period.
Othmann thrashed Wotherspoon with a clean punch in the second round to kick off the two fights when the whistle blew at 40:00. Wotherspoon was fed up with Othmann hitting him around like the house piñata.
Newcomer Mark Kastelic, who was traded to Ottawa for Linus Ullmark, received the Bruins’ first penalty of the preseason. The big winger was whistled for tripping on offense at 3:44. The Bruins are looking to be tougher on the forecheck this year, and penalties can be a byproduct of the faster pace.
Koepke and Jaxon Nelson worked together to create two quick shorthanded chances with Kastelic in the box. Nelson created the chances with his first possession.
The Bruins failed to produce a power play in the first period, which included 48 seconds of five-on-three.
The No. 1 PP was supported by Mason Lohrei, who worked behind forwards Georgii Merkulov, John Farinacci, Riley Tufte and Fabian Lysell.
No. 2 PP had two top men, Frederic Brunet and Jordan Oesterle, as triggers behind Brunet, Riley Duran and Koepke.
Old friend Anton Blidh, who left here after the 2021-22 season, worked on the left wing in the Blueshirts’ No. 4 line. Harvard’s Jimmy Vesey, now 31 and eight years removed from his Hobey Baker Award, lined up on the right side of their No. 2 trio.
Former BC defenseman Casey Fitzgerald, originally a Sabres draft pick, played on the right side of NYR’s No. 1 defensive pairing. He signed a two-year deal over the summer that guarantees him at least $450,000 this season and converts to a one-way deal for $775,000 next year.
Behind Boston’s bench, Jim Montgomery was supported by his entire staff, including assistant coach Joe Sacco (promoted in the summer), Chris Kelly and returning coach Jay Leach, who returned to the Black and Gold after three seasons as an assistant to the Kraken.
Studnicka signed a two-way contract with the Kings as a free agent this summer.
Kevin Paul Dupont can be reached at [email protected].
