A pair of power-play goals, one by center Zach Hamill in the first period and another by Max Sauve in the third period, powered the Boston Bruins to a 2-1 win over the Rangers in their preseason opener at Madison Square Garden. Marco Sturm and Blake Wheeler assisted on the first goal while Milan Lucic set up Sauve's score with a nifty pass. Rookie goaltender Tuukka Rask kept the Rangers off the board through two periods, but Chris Higgins finally potted one for New York in the third. The B's will travel to Toronto to take on the Maple Leafs Wednesday night. That game will be televised on the NHL Network in the Boston market.

On a conference call Tuesday afternoon, Patriots coach Bill Belichick was asked if the injury that linebacker Jerod Mayo suffered in the first half of Monday’s win over the Bills could be classified as a season-ending injury. “I don’t think that’s what it is,” responded the coach, who added that New England would have an update on Mayo’s condition tomorrow when the first practice report of the week was released. The second-year linebacker was injured late in the first quarter on a 16-yard run by Buffalo running back Fred Jackson. After spending a few moments on the sidelines -- where it appeared the medical staff was examining his right knee -- he was helped to the locker room. He did not return. For more Patriots’ updates, check out our football blog, “It Is What It Is.”