Rangers at Bruins: Opening Night Preview & Who to Watch
The nightcap of ESPN's opening tripleheader pits two Original Six giants trying to bounce back. The New York Rangers missed the playoffs entirely last season; the Boston Bruins squeaked in as a wild card and were bounced in the first round. Both spent the summer retooling, and both need a fast start.
Boston's short spring
The Bruins reached the playoffs as a wild card but fell in the first round to the division-winning Buffalo Sabres. The offense still runs through David Pastrnak, coming off another prolific goal-scoring season, and Boston added scoring winger JJ Peterka from Utah over the summer to give Pastrnak more help up front.
New York's reset
The Rangers' miss was the bigger disappointment, and their summer reflected it — a roster shuffle that brought in Pavel Dorofeyev from Vegas while moving out veteran center Vincent Trocheck. A proud franchise is looking to reestablish itself, starting on the road in a hostile building.
Ones to Watch
Our picks below are informed opinion based on the facts above — not a crystal ball.
Whatever else changes in Boston, Pastrnak is the constant — one of the game's premier finishers and the straw that stirs the Bruins' drink. Opening night, he's the first thing New York has to solve.
Boston paid a real price to add Peterka's scoring. His debut alongside Pastrnak is the first evidence of whether the Bruins found the secondary punch they lacked.
A key piece of the Rangers' retool. New York needs its new additions to hit the ground running, and Dorofeyev is exhibit A.
How to watch: the game airs on ESPN to close opening night. For every national window and how to follow both teams, see our How to Watch the NHL in 2026-27 guide.
Full game details & how to watch →
Results and standings verified as of publication (Wednesday, July 29, 2026). "Ones to watch" are our opinion — see our Editorial Policy. Start times shown in US Eastern; on the schedule they convert to your local zone.