Ironically, both teams are here after long seven-game series that were every bit as challenging. The Rangers overcame deficits of 2-0 and 3-2 to stun Washington, winning three games at MSG by a goal and routing the Caps in Game Seven. They did it on the back of Henrik Lundqvist, who pitched consecutive shutouts by stopping the last 62 shots. They’re here because they’re a resilient group who sticks together under tactician John Tortorella. They advanced despite no goals from Rick Nash and just one from captain Ryan Callahan. Derek Stepan only had two and Carl Hagelin tallied two goals and two helpers. Derick Brassard led them with nine points. The strong defensive tandem of Ryan McDonagh and Dan Girardi, who stifled Alex Ovechkin. Spare pieces Mats Zuccarello, Brian Boyle, Arron Asham and Taylor Pyatt stepped up along with Derek Dorsett and depth defensemen John Moore, Anton Stralman and Steve Eminger. Mike Del Zotto elevated his game when it mattered most. Ryane Clowe, Marc Staal and Darroll Powe remain out. Is this the round Brad Richards awakens? He finished last round centering Asham and Chris Kreider, who ironically set up Asham after being in the doghouse. It’ll take the same kind of team effort to beat the Bruins. 

The Bruins are built on toughness. In some aspects, they resemble the Blueshirts. A pesky bunch who can never be counted out, their experience is what got them through Toronto. At times against the Leafs, Claude Julien’s group was inconsistent. They nearly let a 3-1 series lead slip away. If not for a total collapse, we’d be talking about a different Original Six match-up. Astonishingly, Boston rallied from a 4-1 hole in the third period of Game Seven. They scored twice with Tuukka Rask on the bench. Milan Lucic and Patrice Bergeron forced sudden death. Ultimately, the clutch Bergeron was the hero, notching his second to send them to the second round. They made playoff history becoming the first team to ever comeback from a three-goal deficit in the final period to win a deciding seventh game. The Bruins boast offensive depth with playoff leading scorer David Krejci exploding for 13 points and Lucic right behind with nine. Linemate Nathan Horton has a penchant for scoring big goals. It was his goal that started the comeback. The B’s didn’t get much out of Brad Marchand and ex-Ranger Jaromir Jagr didn’t score a goal. No.68 can be a handful. Tyler Seguin was a no-show. Don’t underestimate energizers Daniel Paille, Rich Peverley, Chris Kelly or Greg Campbell. Shawn Thornton is one of the toughest fighters in the game who can also skate. 

Boston is led by captain Zdeno Chara, who anchors the blueline. He logged a ton of minutes with Julien leading heavily on the NHL’s best defenseman in my book. Chara combines enormous, physicality with adept skating and a lethal shot that can be a difference maker. His eight points rank third. With his team trailing by a goal, it was his big body that James Reimer had to contend with when Bergeron’s point shot snuck through. There’s nothing Chara won’t do to help his team win. The rest of the D is a question mark due to a combination of injuries and youth. Most notably, Chara’s underrated partner Dennis Seidenberg was said to be limping around following Game Seven after playing only one shift. Vets Andrew Ference and Wade Redden are also banged up. It’s ironic that Redden has become an important player for the Bruins. He played five games in Round One tallying a goal and assist. Boston was forced to play two rookies in Game Seven including the talented Dougie Hamilton, who got into three games while Matt Bartkowski was in two and had a goal in the deciding game. The B’s also can rely on vet Johnny Boychuk and Adam McQuaid. A lot depends on the back end’s health. 

The goalie match-up is fascinating with the game’s best Lundqvist up against Rask. In Beantown, it’s Tuukka Time with the 26-year old Finnish netminder more than capable of stealing games. Despite a great year where he won 19 games while posting a 2.00 GAA, .929 save percentage and five shutouts, he was overlooked for the Vezina with last year’s winner Lundqvist getting the nod alongside Sergei Bobrovsky and Antti Niemi. Indeed, Rask should have a chip on his shoulder entering the series. He enters with a 2.49 GAA and .923 save percentage. Respectable numbers. However, Hank posted a 1.65 GAA, .947 save percentage with two shutouts. Lundqvist wants to win badly. It’s his competitiveness that makes him such a great goalie. He hates losing. He knows what’s at stake. At 31 with one more year left on his contract, he wants to deliver a Cup back to Manhattan. It should be a great battle between two of the game’s best. 

As for the two coaches, Tortorella and Julien are both respected. They get their players to perform. Think about how close Julien was to losing his job. Had they fallen to Montreal in the first round two years ago, he would’ve been fired. Instead, they won the Cup. They continue to pull series out. Tortorella was on the hot seat before his team finished sixth and upset the Caps. It really wasn’t that much of a surprise. Now, they face another high seed who an entire TSN panel took. The Rangers have gone from pre-season Cup favorites to universally disrespected. That’s the way I want it. Let everyone continue to doubt them. They’re back to being a team, who still fights every inch for their coach despite cynics wanting him gone. Maybe they’re wrong. In the first round, they eliminated the No.3 seed. Now, they have an opportunity to beat the No.2 seed. It’s pretty obvious where I’m going with top seed Pittsburgh up a game on Ottawa. The Rangers have a chance to do something special. This is the second step.

Series Prediction: RANGERS IN 6

SECOND ROUND PICKS

East 

(1) Pittsburgh over (7) Ottawa in 6

(6) Rangers over (2) Boston in 6

West

(1) Chicago over (7) Detroit in 7

(6) San Jose over (5) Los Angeles in 6