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| Johnny Boychuk is congratulated by Patrice Bergeron. Getty Images/Elise Amendola |
It’s going to be a tough hill to climb. For a second consecutive series, the Rangers find themselves in a 2-0 hole. They were beaten by the Bruins 5-2 in Game Two at TD Garden. It’ll take quite an effort to dig out of it against the former 2011 Cup champ, who seem intent on sticking around a while.
Boston beat Henrik Lundqvist five times. Previously, they’d never gotten more than three against him. The five that beat him were the most since Mar. 9, 2011 when Anaheim scored five. In fact, it’s the most goals he’s allowed in a playoff game since his introduction in ’06 when he permitted six against New Jersey in Game One of the first round.
”I’m confident I’m going to go home and try to play a strong game in the next one,” he said after making 27 saves.
”We gave it to them,” Lundqvist added. ”I thought we played great. I didn’t think they had to work really hard to get a couple goals there. We just made it really tough on ourselves.”
Despite being out-shot 37-32, the Bruins never trailed. They got off to a fast start when rookie defenseman Torey Krug notched his second of the series at 5:28. Krug continued to turn heads when he took a Nathan Horton feed and beat Lundqvist. David Krejci added a helper.
Their lead didn’t last long. A great individual effort from captain Ryan Callahan resulted in h’im scoring unassisted to tie it 3:33 later. He stole the puck and tipped it to himself, blowing past Dougie Hamilton to come in one on one against Tuukka Rask. Callahan faked and finished off a nice forehand deke for his second goal in three games. They wasted two power plays in the first despite better puck movement. The Blueshirts were 0-for-5. Even Carl Hagelin was given a try by John Tortorella. Brutal special teams are threatening to send them home.
The Rangers played a strong second, firing 16 shots on Rask. Unfortunately, the Vezina snub made some crucial saves to keep his team afloat. For the second time, the Bruins went ahead early. Their fourth line got the job done against our fourth line. Having cycled the puck, Adam McQuaid passed across for Krug, whose shot through traffic hit Dan Girardi‘s skate, allowing an unguarded Greg Campbell to rebound home his first. Brad Richards failed to take him and Girardi’s miscue was part of a miserable day where he was on for all five goals against, going minus-four. He and mismatched partner Mike Del Zotto (minus-three) were brutal.
Less than a minute later, Rick Nash finally got on the board. He scored his first of the postseason off a brilliant rush where he beat Zdeno Chara. Flying all game, he took a Mats Zuccarello pass in the neutral zone and coasted in on Rask, firing a laser far post. Girardi added an assist.
With the game tied 2-2, the Rangers seemed poised to go in front. Derek Stepan blew a great opportunity when he was set up perfectly but helplessly saw his shot clang off the crossbar. It was a turning point. Arron Asham and Shawn Thornton exchanged roughs, creating a four on four. The Bruins used the extra space to cash in. Defenseman Johnny Boychuk’s snapshot from the blueline snuck past Lundqvist, who had to deal with traffic. Brad Marchand made the play, sending a back pass to Boychuk.
”It was definitely a screen,” Boychuk said. ”All I had to do was hit the net because there were a couple of guys in front of him.”
If there is an area our team doesn’t do well, it’s contain an opponent’s forecheck. They constantly lose battles in the corners and struggle to clear the puck. Despite being outplayed, Boston’s attack was relentless. Their size and speed is causing fits. That was the difference when they put it away in the third.
“After the second period, ”I told guys to play to win,” Claude Julien said. ”I don’t like our team when we are back on our heels and protecting a one-goal lead that way.”
All it took was 26 seconds for the Bruins to increase their lead to two. On a simple two on two, Patrice Bergeron set up Game One hero Marchand once again with the B’s best forward the first two games beating Girardi to the spot for a tap in. Unacceptable. That it came on the opening shift of the third trailing by one is puzzling. But it also tells us about the character of Boston. Rask held them in and they finished the Rangers off.
Hagelin drew a penalty on Boychuk but it didn’t matter. The Rangers can’t score on the power play. It’s become absurd. They’re a hideous 2 for 37. You’re supposed to build momentum off it. Instead, disrespecting foes attack it and seize control. Milan Lucic erased any doubt when he tapped in his own flubbed pass.
Now, the Rangers need some home cooking like they did to Washington to get back in it.
”We’ve done it before,” Lundqvist said, ”but I think we are playing a better team now so it’s going to be tough to do it.”
NY Puck 3 Stars:
3rd Star-Johnny Boychuk, Bos (scored game-winner-3rd of playoffs, 3 hits, 3 blocked shots, +2 in 23:22-could’ve gone to Krug but Boychuk played big minutes)
2nd Star-Brad Marchand, Bos (2nd of series, assist, 3 takeaways in 17:25-a winning hockey player)
1st Star-Tuukka Rask, Bos (35 saves incl. 15/16 in 2nd-Tuukka Time)
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Battle Of Hudson 