New York @ Boston preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 6, 2019 ) Boston 3, NY Rangers 4

The Boston Bruins were 20 minutes away from completing a dominating four-game road trip before unraveling against the league-best Tampa Bay Lightning. Despite the fact they are in a battle to hold onto second place in the Atlantic Division, the Bruins will have to guard against an emotional letdown when they return home to face the struggling New York Rangers on Wednesday night.

Boston had won four straight and outscored the opposition 17-4 in the first three stops of its trek before surrendering three third-period goals in a 5-4 setback to the Lightning on Monday night. “It’s something you don’t want to see, but it happened," Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said of the meltdown. "You learn every day in this league, young and old. There were lessons learned for a few of our guys tonight.” Boston has won 11 in a row at home but lost both meetings this season -- each one by goal -- to the Rangers, who gave up an early two-goal lead in a 5-2 drubbing by visiting Pittsburgh on Monday night. New York has dropped 12 of its last 14 games overall and has failed to score more than two goals in its last seven contests (1-5-1).

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network

ABOUT THE RANGERS (29-33-13): New York could be thin up front after shutting down Jesper Fast (shoulder) for the season and due to the uncertain status of forward Chris Kreider and defenseman Marc Staal, who are nursing lower-body injuries. Rangers coach David Quinn said Fast has not been at full strength for at least six weeks and said his injury was becoming worse, prompting the decision to end his season. “He’s invaluable to us," Quinn said. "I always had heard great things about him but he far exceeded anything that I had heard.”

ABOUT THE BRUINS (46-21-9): Forward Marcus Johansson, acquired from New Jersey at the trade deadline, is expected to make his return to the lineup after being sidelined for the past 10 games due to a lung contusion. Torey Krug skated again Tuesday and is a possibility to return after sitting out six games with a concussion while fellow blue-liner John Moore's status is unclear after he was hurt in Monday's loss. Center Patrice Bergeron has collected five goals and five assists during a five-game point streak.

OVERTIME

1. Bruins F Brad Marchand has multiple points in three straight games and three in two matchups against New York.

2. Rangers G Mika Zibanejad has three of his team-high 28 goal in two meetings versus Boston this season.

3. Boston G Jaroslav Halak is 18-8-1 against New York despite losing both decisions this season.

PREDICTION: Bruins 4, Rangers 2