Bruins vs. Rangers: Black Friday NHL Showdown

Black Friday Hockey: Bruins Host Rangers in Matinee Rivalry

The NHL rivalry heats up this Black Friday as the Boston Bruins welcome the New York Rangers to TD Garden for a highly anticipated 1:00 p.m. ET matchup. While the game offers a festive holiday atmosphere, both teams enter with significant roster dynamics that could shape the outcome.

Bruins Battle Injuries Amidst Rivalry

The Bruins face a major test of depth as key forwards David Pastrnak and Pavel Zacha will miss the game with injuries. Both are listed as day-to-day, forcing coach Marco Sturm to adjust his lineup significantly. "We've done it before," Sturm stated, emphasizing the importance of maintaining structure without his stars. In response, the team recalled Georgii Merkulov from Providence and welcomed back Casey Mittelstadt from a lower-body injury. Merkulov, with 14 points in 17 AHL games this season, will make his Bruins debut.

Goaltender Joonas Korpisalo starts for Boston, looking to build on his 29-save effort against Anaheim. Defensively, Nikita Zadorov has stepped up impressively, leading the Bruins in hits (78) and averaging over 27 minutes of ice time per game.

Rangers Seek Road Momentum

The Rangers arrive in Boston riding positive momentum after a 4-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. Goalie Igor Shesterkin made 36 saves in that victory, while Artemi Panarin and Adam Fox continue their strong seasons with 22 points each. Panarin's line with J.T. Miller and Vincent Trocheck has been particularly potent, while Fox anchors the top defensive pairing.

New York has excelled on the road recently, adding urgency to this matchup as the first of three regular-season meetings between these Atlantic Division rivals.

Key Matchups to Watch

"They had a tough start, but they’ve been pretty good as of late. Very good on the road. Slowly getting their guys back, too." – Bruins coach Marco Sturm on the Rangers

Despite Pastrnak's absence, the Bruins' power play could exploit a Rangers weakness. New York ranks 29th in shot suppression and 30th in expected goals when shorthanded. Alex Steeves, who scored two goals in his last game, moves up to a top-line role alongside Elias Lindholm and Morgan Geekie.

On the other end, Adam Fox faces a Bruins defense allowing the sixth-most shots to defensemen over the last 10 games. Fox averages 5.6 shot attempts per game and could capitalize on this matchup.

How to Watch the Black Friday Showdown

When: Friday, November 28, 2025
Time: 1:00 p.m. ET
Where: TD Garden, Boston, MA
TV: TNT

Final Prediction

With both teams at partial strength, the Bruins' home advantage and recent defensive cohesion could tip the scales. However, the Rangers' road prowess and Shesterkin's in-goal presence make this a tightly contested rivalry game. Expect physical play from Zadorov and opportunistic scoring from Steeves and Geekie against a Rangers team vulnerable to special teams.