Game 3: Fourth-Line Fireworks

Boston's grinders lead scoring charge in 2-1 road win

Shawn Thornton celebrates Johnny Boychuk's (right) tying goal.
The Bruins enforcer recorded assists on both goals. (Getty)

Two days after giving up five goals in Game 2 of the Conference Semfinals, Henrik Lundqvist knew it was on him to play better.  Through the first two games, the New York Rangers had been outskated, outhit and perhaps most importantly, outgoaltended.

Lundqvist held up his end of the bargain in Game 3 on Tuesday against the Boston Bruins, but his teammates did not.  The Rangers offense continued to struggle and the Bruins' two goals were enough for a 2-1 win that gave Boston a stranglehold on the series.

The New York goaltender walked his talk early in the game when he stoned Chris Kelly on a breakaway at just 8:10, after Dan Girardi coughed up the puck to the Bruins forward.  Three minutes later, he helped the struggling Tyler Seguin prolong his playoff-long goal scoring slump by shutting him down on another breakaway.  Seconds after that, Michael Del Zotto aided his netminder by stick-checking Jaromir  Jagr as he looked to poke home a rebound.  (Like Seguin, Jagr also has yet to score in the postseason.)

The Rangers outshot the Bruins 11-9 through a scoreless first period, but it was Boston that generated the majority of scoring chances.  Lundqvist's big saves kept his team in the game and issued a warning to the visitors that goals would not come easy in his building.

New York lost a noticeable edge in play during the second period and got outshot 14-5.  Fortunately for the home team, its goaltender saved all 14 shots in the period and gave the Rangers a chance to take the lead.

Game 2: Vanquishing the King

Bruins score five on "King" Henrik to take 2-0 series lead

Gregory Campbell beats Henrik Lundqvist in the second period. (Getty)

In Game 1 of the Conference Semifinals on Thursday, the Boston Bruins and New York Rangers spent the better part of the game getting a feel for the opponent.  There was no such formality in Sunday's Game 2.  The two teams hit the ice at full speed, and it was the Bruins that ended up setting the pace with a 5-2 win.

Boston struck first at 5:28, as rookie defenseman Torey Krug scored his second goal in as many career playoff games.  Nathan Horton made a nice cross ice feed to Krug along the top of the circles.  The rookie made a nifty play to fish the puck out of skates and stepped into a snapshot that beat New York goaltender Henrik Lundqvist.

The gritty Rangers seemed unphased, as they responded with a few hard shifts to regain the momentum.  The Bruins' Brad Marchand made an ill-advised pass into the body of Ryan Callahan at the top of the offensive zone.  New York captain beat Boston defenseman Dougie Hamilton in a foot race and went alone, deking goaltender Tuukka Rask on a nice move to the far post for the tying goal at 8:01.

The even-stevens period ended at 1-1 with Boston holding a 12-11 shot advantage.  The second period would start in similar fashion.

Game 1: Marchand-ing Into Round 2

No. 63's first playoff goal lifts Bruins in overtime

Brad Marchand (background) celebrates his game-winning
goal as captain Zdeno Chara (33) closes in for a hug. (Getty)

The Boston Bruins started the regular season 19-4-3, but ended up losing their division to a Montreal Canadiens team that ranked dead last in the Eastern Conference the previous season.  The New York Rangers were on the short list of preseason favorites to win the Stanley Cup, but bumbled into the playoffs as a six-seed.

None of the struggles mattered Thursday night when the two teams squared off in Game 1 of the Conference Semifinals.  Both team needed seven games to dispatch of their first round foes, Boston even needed a miracle and an overtime, but they each advanced.  That was the important part.

As far as anyone is concerned at this point, the regular season disappointment is well in the past.  The realistic preseason goal of raising a Stanley Cup for both remains a reality as they march on through the playoffs.

Game 1 appeared to be the beginning of what might be a lengthy chess match.  A few pawns might have changed hands.  A knight might have made an appearance here, a bishop there, and "King" Henrik (Lundqvist) was put in check (facing 48 shots in the losing effort), but the match is far from its final form.

NHL Conference Semifinals Preview

While it wasn't hard to fathom San Jose winning
the series, a clean sweep of Vancouver was
the first round's biggest surprise. (Getty)

And, then there were eight.

Eight teams left with a chance to win the most-prized trophy in all of sports.  Eight teams left on the battle field, while the other 22 watched from afar, departed from the greatest quest in sports: the quest for the Stanley Cup.

Gone are Vancouver, Montreal, Minnesota, St. Louis, the New York Islanders, Anaheim, Toronto and Washington.  Bye-bye.

Remaining are the following:

Western Conference

1. Chicago Blackhawks vs. 7. Detroit Red Wings

Chicago: The Hawks rolled through the Minnesota Wild as expected.  I had picked them in five games, and that's how they fashioned it.  Their only loss was an overtime thriller in Game 3, and aside from an early Game 1 extra session, it was never close.  Chicago won the three other games by three goals or more, outscoring Minnesota 18-6 in the series.