Final
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Bruins seek to bounce back against Rangers

Nov 29, 2013 - 3:41 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Boston Bruins will try to bounce back from their worst loss of the season when they host the New York Rangers in Friday's matinee battle between Original Six rivals.

The Bruins played on the road Wednesday night in Detroit and were handed a 6-1 setback by the Red Wings. It was Boston's first regulation loss since Nov. 15 and also marked the first time this season that the B's lost by a margin of greater than two goals.

Boston was only down 1-0 after the first period on Wednesday before the Red Wings scored three times in the second stanza to open a big lead. Detroit expanded its cushion to six goals in the third before the Bruins finally got on the board with a Jarome Iginla marker with 2:25 left in the contest.

Tuukka Rask surrendered all six goals on 28 shots for the Bruins, who had picked up at least a point in their previous five games (4-0-1).

"Everything we did tonight was just disastrous," said Boston head coach Claude Julien. "Every once in a while you get a game like that and you hope it wakes your team up."

Julien hopes a two-game homestand at TD Garden is enough to awaken his club. The Bruins, who also will host Columbus on Saturday, are 10-3-2 as the host this season.

Boston defeated the Rangers in New York recently, earning a 2-1 regulation decision on Nov. 19 at Madison Square Garden. Rask was the difference for the Bruins in that close win, as he stopped 43-of-44 shots.

The Bruins have taken three of the past five encounters with New York, posting a 3-0-2 mark in those tilts. However, the Rangers have claimed five of the past six meetings in Boston.

Henrik Lundqvist stopped 20-of-22 shots for New York in the home loss against Boston earlier this month. He will get the start for the Rangers on Friday and boasts a 21-8-2 record and a 1.68 goals against average over 31 career games versus the Bruins.

Rask expects to start today and is 4-3-3 with a 1.98 GAA in 10 outings against the Rangers.

New York enters Friday's Original Six clash having won three of its past four games. The Blueshirts picked up their most recent win Wednesday night at Florida, as Mats Zuccarello had a goal and an assist to help New York record a 5-2 decision over the Panthers.

Derick Brassard, Brad Richards, Rick Nash and Carl Hagelin also lit the lamp for the Rangers, who improved to 3-1-0 on a five-game road trip that ends today in Boston.

Lundqvist stopped 31-of-33 shots in the victory.

"I just tried to play my game tonight," Lundqvist said. "It was important for me and the team to bounce back with a solid performance. You feel the importance of trying to get points. I'm happy with the way I played. The biggest part of this game was the two points."

Rangers forward Derek Dorsett missed Wednesday's game with a sore wrist and is questionable for Friday.

New York is 9-7-0 on the road this season compared to a 4-5-0 mark at home. After capping a road trip this afternoon, the Rangers will play two straight and 11 of their next 12 games on home ice.