Boston Bruins

Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist may be one of the best goalies in the world, but he’s also really good at finding a way to place the blame elsewhere when things don’t go very well. He was doing just that only a few hours before his team looks to avoid being swept out of the playoffs in Game 4 of their second-round series with the Bruins. This time, it’s the bounces’ fault. “I’ve looked at a few games, and they definitely got some lucky bounces,” Lundqvist said Thursday morning, according to ESPN.com. “Last game I blame the loss on lucky bounces, but they haven’t changed the way they’re playing. They shoot from the point and they get a lot of people in front of the net. That’s what they do, and they’re good at it. You just have to play them hard and make sure we make it tough for them to get in front.” Lundqvist turned in his best performance in Game 3 against Boston where he made a series of highlight-reel saves. However, the Bruins were able to will a couple of pucks by the New York netminder, which was just enough to eek out a 2-1 win to take the 3-0 series lead. It was easily the goalie’s best effort of the series after he allowed three goals and five goals in Games 1 and 2 respectively. Somewhat coincidentally, Lundqvist was actually helped by a good bounce in Game 3 just seconds before the game-winning goal. The puck went straight up in the air and then down behind Lundqvist before it took a crazy bounce on the goal line and out. That’s when Daniel Paille beat a Rangers defenseman to the puck and banged it home for the eventual game-winner.

Hello. Last time on "3 Questions With..." we had Blueshirt Banter's Kevin Power. It was pretty good, but apparently a little too nice. Plus, Mike Murphy came over here and acted like a Tortorella child. So, because I'm such a nice guy, I asked Mike to let us know a little insider perspective on the 0-3 New York Rangers. Let's see what he had to say: 1: Tortorella apparently can't coach his way around the offensive dynamo that is Shawn Thornton. How should the Rangers contain him? Knowing Torts I would imagine that he would go with a simple and blunt solution that may or may not employ the use of profanity or some kind of bullying. In this particular case I think he'd attempt to have several Rangers wrassle Shawn Thornton to the ground, muzzle him, and then relocate him - just like you would any other problem bear. Given how thick Shawn Thornton's neck is I think it would take at least three Brian Boyles or about fourteen Mats Zuccarellos. What Torts really has to do is contain the blueline of the Bruins. So many of the goals in this series have come from open shots from the point that have created havoc in the form of big rebounds, screens, or deflections. I don't know why Torts and the Rangers haven't adapted to this but they struggled with it against the Caps in the First Round and it seems like they just don't know how to address the problem. 2: Do you miss Gaborik? Any other players you'd like to have in this series that have left the Rangers recently? I miss the "good" Marian Gaborik and the healthy Marian Gaborik but I don't think he would have had a big impact on this series or prevented the Rangers from getting in a 3-0 hole. As outstanding as Gaborik was against the Bruins in the regular season this year he was also unbearably inconsistent and far too prone to injury. Having Gaborik would also mean not having Derick Brassard (the best Ranger other than Hank in the playoffs) and John Moore who has been crucial to the team with the loss of Marc Staal on the blueline. Marc Staal is who I really miss and wish was in the series because as bad and inadequate as the Rangers offense and powerplay has been in the playoffs and in this series in particular, their defense hasn't been much better. Losing Marc Staal has been devastating to the Rangers blueline and replacing him in the lineup has been a struggle and has once again exposed the less-than-stellar defensive play of Michael Del Zotto. 3: If the Rangers lose in the next 4 games and Torts gets fired, who do you think the Rangers would bring in to replace him? Who would you like them to bring in? I have no idea if Torts will or won't lose his job over how this season, the playoffs, or this series has gone. John Tortorella hasn't been an awful coach since he took over the reins in New York, in fact he's been a pretty good one. Getting the team to the Eastern Conference Finals last year and getting them into the Second Round this year is not something that should be easily dismissed but there is no denying that things have to change and improve in New York and it looks like it is time for a change in the way the Rangers play hockey. The lack of offense and the awful powerplay alone prompts some kind of action. Whether or not that is Torts losing his job or a new assistant coming in to replace Mike Sullivan or help work on the powerplay I am not sure. The name Lindy Ruff has been kicked around a lot but Ruff is more or less the same coach as Torts so I am not sure what good that would do the Rangers. As of the moment I don't have any solid ideas for potential replacements... I just hope that if they do give him the yank they put someone in there who is a lot nicer to the press, they've been through a lot with Torts at the helm. Thanks again to Mike for answering my questions.

May 21, 2013; New York, NY, USA; Boston Bruins forward Gregory Campbell (11) celebrates after scoring on New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist (30) during the third period in game three of the second round of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Boston won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports When the Boston Bruins edged out the Toronto Maple Leafs in game seven of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals, Bruins Nation breathed a sigh of relief. That relief quickly became concern when we realized who are opponent was in the semifinals were. The New York Rangers (on paper) were every bit our equal in a physical game. Their goalie, Henrik Lundqvist was slated to be a Vezina trophy finalist and was better than our own Tuukka Rask. Could the Bruins survive the second round? Well, the last time the numbers had the Bruins out of playoffs was 2011. I think we all remember how that turned out. The Bruins have ignored the math, and played to their skills. Even with half of their starting defensemen playing in their rookie NHL playoffs, the Bruins have leapt out to a commanding 3-0 lead going into game four tonight at Madison Square Garden. The Rangers will be starting game four with key holes in their roster. Anton Stralman was hurt late in the second period of game three when Milan Lucic put him in the end boards in the defensive zone. Stralman sat out the entire third period and did not participate in the Rangers’ optional skate yesterday. As Stralman was averaging over twenty one minutes in the playoffs, the Rangers will have to have someone step up and play to the level of the Bruins’ captain, Zdeno Chara. (Not bloody likely!) Brad Richards will be a healthy scratch tonight. This morning, Richards told reporters that New York head coach John Tortorella called him this morning with the news he wasn’t playing. Richards who is two years deep into a nine year, sixty million dollar contract has been a big disappointment so far for the Rangers.  In his ten playoff appearances, he’s only tallied a single goal while skating on the fourth line. (He only had 8:10 of ice time in game three.) The Rangers will be playing for their playoff lives (and quite possibly John Tortorella’s job) tonight. The puck drops at 7:00 pm at Madison Square Garden.

The New York Rangers face elimination at home tonight, as the Boston Bruins seek to close out this series at Madison Square Garden, T-MINUS SEVEN HOURS TO PUCK DROP. Here's where we left off on Tuesday, and the Rangers will not want to leave quietly on such a sour note. [BostonHerald] Our Energy Line is better than the Rangers' fourth line, and the numbers say so. [TheBostonGlobe] Snubbed for a Vezina nomination, Tuukka Rask is the best goalie left in the playoffs. [Sportsmedia101] Jaromir Jagr was not on ice for practice, Carl Soderberg filled in. [@NHLBruins^CS] Andrew Ference continued to be the only defensman not on ice. [@NHLBruins^CS] Brad Richards has been scratched by the Rangers for tonight. [@DJ_Bean] The Rangers appear to be in a place that Milan Lucic spoke of as the Bruins faced the Leafs in Game 7, with more at stake than just the game and series. [WEEI] Johnny Boychuk is scoring with Johnny Wristers. [ESPN] Torey Krug has a lot more on his plate than just hockey, and might have use for a silver punch bowl. [BostonHerald] Krug's father spoke about flying out to attend his son's game, his goals, and his trending on Twitter. [DetroitFreePress] Speaking of best men, Daniel Paille and Dan Girardi share a lot of wonderful history. [TheNewYorkTimes] Providence Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy was verklampt over the success of Torey Krug and Matt Bartkowski. [ProvidenceJournal] Are Tyler Seguin, Jonathan Toews, and Jaromir Jagr terrible by definition? [TheScore] Proposed project on Causeway Street will include a new entrance to TD Garden and North Station. [Costar.com] The Brian Boyle 's family has been wittily walking a fine line as fans here in Boston. [TheBostonGlobe] A footnote in the Jaromir Jagr trade, Lane MacDermid has performed credibly in Dallas. [DefendingBigD] Time to jettison some hockey jargon? [NewEnglandHockeyJournal] Hmmm... How about a "Least Valuable Player" award? [OnTheForecheck] As we enjoy the postseason, spare a moment to see how the other half lives. "My Year As A Florida Panthers Season Ticketholder." [Cavemag.com] Right behind Dafoomie, this man is my hero. Tim Thompson creates all those brilliant, stirring CBC HNIC opening montages. [NationalPost]

Yesterday, Brad Richards was the second-most-popular buyout page on Capgeek.com. He was behind Roberto Luongo but ahead of Rick DiPietro. And DiPietro's buyout is hilarious. Today? He's the number one. Why? Because Brad Richards - who won the 2004 Conn Smythe under Tortorella in Tampa Bay - has been told he is sitting on press row for tonight's game. In for Richards? Micheal Haley. Or Maybe Kris Newbury. Both of them appear to be replacing Brad Richards and Arron Asham. Asham isn't as much of a surprise as the guy making 12 million dollars this year to play professional hockey. What a surprise for the Rangers, who have never made this mistake before. Just ask Scott Gomez or Chris Drury. Oh, wait. Anyways, hilariously bad Sather signings aside, Anton Stralman seems to be out because - according to Brooksie - Lucic "broke him in two." In for Stralman? Jack Edwards' favorite player, Roman Hamrlik! Of course, the backbone of New York, Henrik Lundqvist, will still play. So it won't be an easy game. But what a show the Rangers are putting on off the ice.

By Fluto Shinzawa, Globe Staff NEW YORK ? Good morning from Madison Square Garden, where the Bruins will look to sweep the Rangers tonight. Game 5 is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Saturday at TD Garden, but the Bruins have...

Just the Facts Game Time: 7:00 PM, Madison Square Garden, New York, NY. TV Broadcast: CNBC, TSN, RDS. Radio Broadcast: 98.5 The Sports Hub. Record: Bruins 3, Rangers 0. The Other Side's SB Nation Site: Blueshirt Banter Get Tickets here: Boston Bruins Tickets Rangers projected lines Hagelin - Stepan - Callahan Zuccarello - Brassard - Nash Dorsett - Boyle - Pyatt Kreider - Richards - Asham Girardi - McDonaghStralman - Del ZottoMoore - Eminger Lundqvist Bruins projected lines: Lucic - Krejci - Horton Marchand - Bergeron - JagrPeverley - Kelly - SeguinPaille - Campbell - Thornton Chara - SeidenbergKrug - McQuaidBartkowski - Boychuk Rask Preview: So Dennis Seidenberg has said he's optimistic about a return for game 4. There's no indication that he WON'T play, so as of now, we're assuming he's going to. Cool. Bench Dougie, give the other kids more ice time, and let's do this thing. After a grind-it-out game three in which two goals were scored with the Merlot line on ice, here's hoping for a return to game two-esque action, with actual goals scored by the lines that are supposed to be scoring them. While we're at it, let's gush about the kid defensemen, too -- and not Dougie, either. Matt Bartkowski and Torey Krug played 19:12 and 18:08 respectively in game three; each even had a small amount of time on the PK. No PP time, as there were no power plays (thanks, MSG) but watching Krug on the power play tonight should be excellent should the Bruins get to go on the man advantage at all. Not talking too much about the fact that this is a close-out game because it makes me nervous as hell. Call it a cross between 2010 and 2011. Remember how we all felt after game 3 in 2011? Yeah. Basically that.

Just the Facts Game Time: 7:00 PM, Madison Square Garden, New York, NY. TV Broadcast: CNBC, TSN, RDS. Radio Broadcast: 98.5 The Sports Hub. Record: Bruins 3, Rangers 0. The Other Side's SB Nation Site: Blueshirt Banter Get Tickets here: Boston Bruins Tickets Rangers projected lines Hagelin - Stepan - Callahan Zuccarello - Brassard - Nash Dorsett - Boyle - Pyatt Kreider - Richards - Asham Girardi - McDonaghStralman - Del ZottoMoore - Eminger Lundqvist Bruins projected lines: Lucic - Krejci - Horton Marchand - Bergeron - JagrPeverley - Kelly - SeguinPaille - Campbell - Thornton Chara - SeidenbergKrug - McQuaidBartkowski - Boychuk Rask Preview: So Dennis Seidenberg has said he's optimistic about a return for game 4. There's no indication that he WON'T play, so as of now, we're assuming he's going to. Cool. Bench Dougie, give the other kids more ice time, and let's do this thing. After a grind-it-out game three in which two goals were scored with the Merlot line on ice, here's hoping for a return to game two-esque action, with actual goals scored by the lines that are supposed to be scoring them. While we're at it, let's gush about the kid defensemen, too -- and not Dougie, either. Matt Bartkowski and Torey Krug played 19:12 and 18:08 respectively in game three; each even had a small amount of time on the PK. No PP time, as there were no power plays (thanks, MSG) but watching Krug on the power play tonight should be excellent should the Bruins get to go on the man advantage at all. Not talking too much about the fact that this is a close-out game because it makes me nervous as hell. Call it a cross between 2010 and 2011. Remember how we all felt after game 3 in 2011? Yeah. Basically that.

As you probably know, Bruins defenseman Dennis Seidenberg has been out of action since Game 7 against the Maple Leafs. Luckily for him, the B’s have been just fine in Seidenberg’s absence, and he admits that it makes it easier to take an additional day to get healthy knowing that your teammates are taking care of business. Even though he’s not on the ice, Seidenberg has a pretty good pulse of the team, and right now he says the Bruins are playing with confidence, and that’s a recipe for success. Check out everything Seidenberg told NESN Daily‘s Naoko Funayama at Bruins practice on Wednesday in the video below.

Don't ask how we found this... ok, go ahead and ask. But we're pretty sure this is Patrice Bergeron modeling as a pirate for a trash romance novel. First a Selke nomination and now a Golden Heart Award Finalist. What a year Bergy is having.