Rangers vs. Bruins: Preview, TV Schedule, Live Stream, Radio, Highlights, More

The Boston Bruins and New York Rangers are the two best teams in the Eastern Conference, and will play each other for the first time this season on Saturday afternoon at the TD Garden.

The Rangers lead the Eastern Conference by one point and are legitimate Stanley Cup contenders. The Bruins are second in the East, and before either team can call themselves the "Beast of the East," they have to play each other at least once.

New York's success this season has primarily come from two players, star goaltender Henrik Lundqvist and winger Marian Gaborik.

Lundqvist is an MVP and Vezina Trophy candidate this season and as usual is playing fantastic between the pipes for the Rangers. He is third in GAA and second in save percentage. Gaborik has been healthy for most of the season, which has been an issue for him in years past, and is fifth in the NHL in goals with 23.

The reasons for Boston's success are same that they were in the playoffs last year, and that's strong goaltending and defense. Backup goaltender Tuukka Rask leads the league in GAA and save percentage, while reigning Vezina winner Tim Thomas is sixth in GAA and fourth in save percentage.

The Rangers have dominated this matchup in recent seasons, and will look to make a statement to the Bruins and the rest of the league when they meet the defending champs in Boston on Saturday.

Let's look at a complete preview of this awesome NHL matchup!

Where: TD Garden, Boston, MA

Watch: NESN for Boston, MSG for New York, NHL Network for National Broadcast

Live Stream: NHL Game Center

Radio: 98.5 The Sports Hub for Boston, 1050 ESPN Radio for New York

When: Saturday, Jan. 21 at 1:00 p.m. EST

Player to watch for Boston: Nathan Horton

Bruins forward Nathan Horton was called out by head coach Claude Julien this week and the young star responded with a two-goal game in a loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday.

Horton needs to play better for the Bruins and that starts with him being more physical on the ice. He needs to use his combination of size and speed to wreak havoc on opposing defensemen. He is a very talented offensive player, but needs to be scoring on a more consistent basis.

On the season, Horton has 31 points on 16 goals and 15 assists.

Player to watch for Rangers: Brad Richards

Brad Richards has proved to be one of the best signings of the offseason because of his offense and veteran leadership.

Richards is third on the Rangers in points (31) and fourth in assists (16). He has given the team the No. 1 center it has lacked for years, and his impact on the Rangers is noticed each night.

Watch for Richards to play a major role for the Rangers on Saturday against the Bruins. He is an elite playmaker.

Key Matchup: Goaltending battle

The reason both teams are playing so well is because of their goaltending. New York will certainly start their No. 1 netminder Henrik Lundqvist on Saturday, while the Bruins could play starter Tim Thomas or backup Tuukka Rask.

Both Boston goalies are worthy of playing, but Thomas should get the nod because in case they face the Rangers in the playoffs, he will need some experience against them in the regular season.

Lundqvist owns the Bruins with a 16-5-2 record against them lifetime, with a GAA of under two. The Swedish star really steps up his game when playing the Bruins, which means getting the first goal will be so crucial to Boston's chances of winning on Saturday. You cannot afford to be playing catch up against a goalie as good as "King Henrik."

Note: When starting goalies are announced, this article will be updated.

What They're Saying

Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist talked about the Boston matchup on Thursday night, via NHL.com:

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"It doesn't get much tougher than that, trying to beat Boston in Boston," said Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist following a 4-1 home loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday night. "They're a really good team. If you don't play smart against a team like that, they're going to make you pay. I look forward to the challenge."

"

Rangers owner James Dolan talked about his team's Stanley Cup chances this week, which head coach John Tortorella did not like.

Per the New York Daily News:

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“Right now up to this point we’ve done a pretty good job — we just have to go about our business,” Tortorella said after the Rangers shut out the visiting Predators, 3-0, and Dolan had left the room on the Garden’s fifth floor. “Like I have my owner up here talking about a Stanley Cup. That’s a bunch of bull----. We need to take one game at a time.”

"

Bruins forward Shawn Thornton talked about the Rangers matchup on Thursday night, via NHL.com:

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"I think everyone is excited for this one," said Shawn Thornton after the Bruins' 4-1 win in New Jersey on Thursday night. "It's a big, big test for us. They're a real good team, well-structured, well-built, well-coached, and they work their butts off. It's a good test for us."

"

Prediction: Bruins win 2-1

Boston always comes out with a ton of energy and intensity against the best teams in the NHL, which is typical of a veteran team that may feel bored at times with the regular season.

The Bruins lead the NHL in most goals scored per game, and fewest goals allowed per game, which is quite remarkable.

Boston will be eager to prove that they are still the best team in the East and the biggest obstacle for anyone in the conference who wants to reach the Stanley Cup Final. The Bruins will grab an early goal and earn a hard-fought but deserved win on Saturday against the Rangers to take the conference lead.

Follow Nicholas Goss on Twitter for NHL news and analysis. Follow @NicholasGoss35.

Nicholas Goss is a Boston Bruins Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report and was the organization's on-site reporter for the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals in Boston.