The Rangers earned it — the game and the expected-goals battle both.
The Bruins' high-danger defense belied the final score. They recorded a perfect 6-for-6 save rate on the Rangers' high-danger chances—a display that would normally preserve a close game—yet the Rangers still won 4-3 in overtime. New York's overwhelming advantage in volume shot past New England's surgical efficiency.
The Rangers dominated the underlying metrics. They held 54% of shot attempts (28 to 24) and a 55-45 split in expected goals (3.52 to 2.93). High-danger chances went 6-2 in their favor, yet they couldn't convert a single one of those premium looks. The Bruins' goaltending—J. Korpisalo's wall in the crease—kept the game tied despite being heavily outchanced.
Both teams found success on the rush, each scoring three goals from rush chances, which explains how the Bruins stayed alive despite the volumetric disadvantage. The Rangers were lethal converting 3 goals on 28 rush chances; the Bruins matched that output on just 23, a slight efficiency edge that kept Boston competitive.
Matthew Robertson's wrist shot from the high slot at 03:53 of overtime ended it—a finish the underlying metrics had penciled in for New York all along.
