Marian Gaborik still going strong

With 32 goals, including five in the last six games, Marian Gaborik is heading for a vintage year, like one of his seasons with the Minnesota Wild. Rangers coach John Tortorella has noticed a significant change in the sniper's positioning since last season.

"He's played in traffic all year long," Tortorella said. "It's a huge part of his game this year. He's not swinging out. I haven't gone through all his goals, but a number of them, he's just banging in there. He's made a concerted effort to work on the details of his game, offensively and defensively, and it's paying off for him."

One Rangers line deployed by Tortorella with about nine minutes left in the first period was NBA-sized: John Scott (6-8), Brian Boyle (6-7) and Mike Rupp (6-5). They were on ice for a long 1:27 shift because the Bruins pretty much had them penned in. They did not skate together again.

Rookie Stu Bickel played a career-high 18:28 and collected his eighth assist on Derek Stepan's winner. He also dropped the gloves with Gregory Campbell in the first period . . . After sitting out the Tampa Bay game, Michael Del Zotto, who had two assists in 20:26, said he knew he was going to play after seeing an MRI of his banged-up right hip yesterday . . . Ruslan Fedotenko, a game-time decision after bruising his left foot while blocking a shot in Tampa, was credited with the first goal. Skating by in front, he screened Tim Thomas on Derek Stepan's winner . . . Ryan Callahan missed his third game in a row. He tested his bruised and swollen right foot by skating for five minutes Saturday but did not take warm-ups and remains day-to-day . . . Ryan McDonagh had a gash on his right cheek, presumably from his visor when Milan Lucic boarded him from behind as the horn sounded to end the game.