Boston Herald - Boston Herald

Tuukka Rask now the fall guy

Stephen Harris — Fri, 24 May 2013 01:18:00 -0400

NEW YORK — Unlike some gentlemen who share his line of work, goalie Tuukka Rask has never been one to make excuses, or rationalize, or otherwise try to duck blame that comes his way.
When he does something bad, he is his own most withering critic.

“It was just awful,” said Rask of his goaltending error-for-the-ages last night that sparked new life in the New York Rangers, who went on to a 4-3 overtime victory, averting a series sweep and forcing a Game 5 tomorrow back in Boston.

Give and take for Tyler Seguin

Steve Conroy, Bruins Notebook — Fri, 24 May 2013 00:59:00 -0400

NEW YORK — Tyler Seguin finally scored a playoff goal last night, but he didn’t have long to celebrate it.

At the time, Seguin scored what appeared to be a huge go-ahead goal for the Bruins instants after a power play at 8:06 of the third period, for a 3-2 lead.

Less than a minute later, he was involved in a sloppy change that led to a penalty for too many men on the ice. Soon after came Brian Boyle’s game-tying goal at 10:00 of the third period.

Buckley: Bruins bad in big way

Steve BuckleyXXXXX — Fri, 24 May 2013 00:44:00 -0400

NEW YORK — The only way the Rangers were going to avoid being swept last night was if the Bruins fell down on the job.

And did they ever — literally, figuratively, every way.

Scratch stings Brad Richards

Dan Duggan — Fri, 24 May 2013 00:19:00 -0400

NEW YORK — The writing was on the wall for Brad Richards.

The Rangers center had been demoted to the fourth line in the first round of the playoffs and his playing time steadily decreased during the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Bruins. Richards had just one goal and no assists in 10 games this postseason before he was a healthy scratch for last night’s 4-3 overtime win in Game 4 at Madison Square Garden.

“I don’t know if surprised is the right word,” Richards said. “I’m just disappointed.”

Bruins give away Game 4

Steve Conroy — Fri, 24 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400

NEW YORK — Seemingly against all odds, the Bruins gave New York life last night.

With a chance to complete the sweep of the Rangers, the B’s took a two-goal lead but fumbled it away and wound up losing, 4-3, in overtime on Chris Kreider’s game-winner at Madison Square Garden.

Bruins give Game 4 to Rangers

Steve Conroy — Thu, 23 May 2013 22:48:00 -0400

NEW YORK — Seemingly against all odds, the Bruins gave the New York Rangers life. After having the Rangers on the ropes, the B’s let them back in Game 4, and then Chris Kreider scored at 7:03 of overtime to give New York its first win of the series, 4-3.

Now the series goes back to Boston with the Bruins up 3-1 entering Saturday’s Game 5, but this Eastern Conference semifinal could have been over in regulation in four games.

The B’s lost a two-goal lead in the second period and a one-goal advantage in the third in nightmarish fashion.

Bruins game still the same

Stephen Harris — Thu, 23 May 2013 00:59:00 -0400

NEW YORK — Henrik Lundqvist has had the closest view of the effectiveness of the Bruins’ forechecking and net presence.

“They go hard to the net,” said Lundqvist yesterday morning, as he and the Rangers prepped for last night’s must-win Game 4 against the Bruins at Madison Square Garden.

Just a matter of time for Bruins

Steve BuckleyXXXXX — Thu, 23 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400

NEW YORK — The Bruins propped up an accommodating collection of players to speak with the media following yesterday’s optional skate at Madison Square Garden, but it was a leftover quote from late Tuesday night, delivered by Game 3 hero Johnny Boychuk, that says it all.

Tuukka Rask worth big bucks

Stephen Harris — Thu, 23 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400

NEW YORK — After 10 games in the 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs, Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas was 7-3, with a 2.12 goals-against average and .935 save percentage. He was the talk of the postseason, already proclaimed not just the best goalie in the NHL but the best player, period.

After 10 games in the 2013 playoffs, Bruins netminder Tuukka Rask is 7-3, with a 2.19 GAA and .930 save percentage. Most people are talking about how good Henrik Lundqvist is.

Shawn Thornton shows his game more than fisticuffs

Steve Conroy — Thu, 23 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400

NEW YORK — Shawn Thornton brings a certain reputation and everyone knows what it is. The Bruins winger is a fighter, and he takes pride in his craft.

But fisticuffs are not as prevalent in the postseason, and because of that, as well as the fact he doesn’t play on the special teams units, Thornton has been a healthy scratch on a number of occasions in the playoffs. And who knows? Maybe if Carl Soderberg had acclimated himself to the North American game a little more quickly, Thornton wouldn’t be in the lineup now.

Dennis Seidenberg closes in

Steve Conroy, Bruins Notebook — Thu, 23 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400

NEW YORK — Injured defensemen Dennis Seidenberg (lower body) and Wade Redden (upper body) took part in the Bruins’ optional practice yesterday at Madison Square Garden. Seidenberg, out since the first period of Game 7 against the Toronto Maple Leafs, said he’s close to returning.

He did not rule himself out for tonight’s Game 4 at MSG, though it sounded like the team is going to tread carefully with the veteran.

Bruin’s cup runneth over  – with playoffs, wedding!

Jill Radsken — Thu, 23 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400

The Stanley Cup playoffs are just part of a hectic mix for rookie Boston Bruins defenseman Torey Krug — he’s also tying the knot July 5. But fiancee Melanie Flood said Krug can take the run for NHL glory and impending nuptials in stride.

“He handles pressure so well,” said Flood, the blond beauty Krug met at Michigan State University. “The only time I’ve ever seen him nervous was when he proposed to me.”

Rangers aim to climb aboard

Dan Duggan — Thu, 23 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400

GREENBURGH, N.Y. — Darroll Powe compared the task ahead of the New York Rangers to climbing a mountain.

With his team facing a 3-0 deficit against the Bruins in the Eastern Conference semifinals, Powe stressed the importance of maintaining a narrow focus. While many Rangers tossed around “one game at a time” cliches yesterday, Powe’s first-hand experience lends credibility to the mountain metaphor.

Relaxed Bruins look to finish Rangers in Game 4

Associated Press — Wed, 22 May 2013 19:20:00 -0400

NEW YORK — The Boston Bruins are on the brink of the Eastern Conference finals, and they got there on the backs of their suddenly offensive defensemen and a potent fourth line of forwards.

They have outclassed the New York Rangers all over the ice in surging to a 3-0 lead in a series that could be over Thursday.

If the Bruins start firing on all cylinders, the Rangers will have little hope of even forcing a Game 5 let alone entertaining thoughts of matching the greatest comeback in sports.

Bruins go fourth with well-rounded effort

Stephen Harris — Wed, 22 May 2013 01:40:00 -0400

This is a story about the excellence of the Bruins fourth line last night at Madison Square Garden, but the same story could be written about all four B’s lines.
It may well be that there hasn’t been another game this season in which the B’s rolled four lines so effectively, and got such solid and smart play from their rear guard. Not to mention a typically fine Tuukka Rask game.

Bruins surge past Rangers for 3-0 series lead

Steve Conroy — Wed, 22 May 2013 01:29:00 -0400

The Bruins are simply a better team than the New York Rangers right now. That’s the only conclusion one could come to after the B’s come-from-behind 2-1 victory over the Rangers last night that leaves them with a 3-0 advantage in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Notebook: Bruins defense strikes goals

Steve Conroy, Bruins Notebook — Wed, 22 May 2013 01:01:00 -0400

NEW YORK — Johnny Boychuk and the Bruins defense strikes again.

Boychuk scored the game-tying goal early in the third period last night, setting up the B’s for a 2-1 victory in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Rangers. It was Boychuk’s fourth goal of the playoffs and the fifth scored by a Bruins blueliner in the series.

Torey Krug stirs echoes of Greg Hawgood

Stephen Harris — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:34:00 -0400

NEW YORK — Long before Torey Krug made his spectacular arrival on the Bruins scene, there was Hawgie Hockey.

In the late ’80s, before Krug was born, defenseman Greg Hawgood electrified Boston with his dynamic skating and offensive flair. Hawgood was just a trifle bigger than the 5-foot-9 Krug — at about 5-10 and 185 pounds — but brought the same sort of highly entertaining skills.

Buckley: Bruins conquer the beast

Steve BuckleyXXXXX — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400

NEW YORK — A lot of people with spoked B’s plastered across their chests were feeling pretty good about themselves after winning two straight playoff games against the Rangers in Boston.

And come on, admit it, Bruins fans: You’ve been laughing your bushy brown tails off over the daily lounge act that is Rangers coach John Tortorella, whose acclaimed motivational shtick includes telling guys they “stink” on the power play.

Henrik Lundqvist down on luck

Dan Duggan — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400

NEW YORK — Henrik Lundqvist stopped every puck he saw last night. The problem for the New York Rangers goalie was that the relentless screens by the Bruins in front of the net prevented him from seeing every shot.

Lundqvist had 32 saves — many of the spectacular variety — but he failed to find two pucks, which allowed the Bruins to win, 2-1, at Madison Square Garden. The Bruins hold a 3-0 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals and have a chance to close the series in Game 4 tomorrow.