Game 13 Live Blog: Boston Bruins @ New York Rangers

Here’s Five Thoughts on the second period with the Boston Bruins leading the New York Rangers 1-0:

1. Trouba Needs To Be Suspended!

As they always seem to do, the NHL Department of Player Safety will likely blame the victim but if they really want to send a message and do a better job of getting rid of headshots, then suspend Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba!

Trouba laid a textbook headshot on Boston Bruins defenseman Jacob Zboril 6:33 into the second period. The archaic cavemen in the Player Safety department and the league will argue that Zboril ducked and leaned his head into the hit but anyone with common sense and not stuck in the stone ages will see, he was following the puck and had no idea his head would be blasted. Time for the league to send a message or stop trying to say they care about player safety and headshots!

#NYR Jacob Trouba with a massive hit on #NHLBruins Jakub Zboril pic.twitter.com/IjIu9Xir1E

— Hockey Hound (@HockeyHoundShow) February 13, 2021

2. Rock Paper Fight!

After warmups, Boston Bruins winger Brad Marchand and Rangers sniper Mika Zibanejad refused to leave the ice as neither, due to superstition, wanted to be the penultimate guy off the ice. Well, that mental competition has turned physical as we’ve got some old-time hockey going on at MSG! There were a combined 44 penalty minutes in the middle frame, two fights, and a 10-minute major.

Round 1 saw Bruins rookie forward got toe-to-toe with Brendan Lemieux 9:28 into the period.

FULL FIGHT: Trent Frederic vs Brendan Lemieux.

WOW: pic.twitter.com/UHCYZLSYcj

— Evan Marinofsky (@emarinofsky) February 13, 2021

Then we saw Boston Bruins defenseman Jeremy Lauzon and Rangers forward Pavel Buchnevich do the tango at 15:14.

Jeremy Lauzon and Pavel Buchnevich drop the gloves. pic.twitter.com/oJHBq8SCUx

— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) February 13, 2021

3. McAvoy Becoming A Leader

On Thursday, my BHN partner in crime, Joe Haggerty wrote about Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy becoming the Bruins’ top defenseman and an elite NHL rearguard this season. Well, tonight he showed once again that he knows this is his blue line and is willing to be a leader. When Trouba laid that headshot on Zboril, McAvoy raced to his defense and dropped the gloves.

Charlie McAvoy objects to Jacob Trouba's hit on Jakub Zboril.

Both guys head to the box. pic.twitter.com/M9fsy6tWdU

— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) February 13, 2021

4. Ritchie Keeps Serving Crow

Nick Ritchie has the lone goal of this game as he gave the Boston Bruins a 1-0 lead 9:27 into the period with his fifth goal of the season. Ritchie now has ten points on the season and continues to make the doubters after last season and the playoffs – like yours truly – eat crow!

5. Krejci Quietly Having Another Solid Season

With his assist on the Ritchie goal, Krejci now has ten helpers this season. His vision, puck sense, and all-around intelligence on the ice are so underrated! Time to give him the props he deserves and sign him to an extension?