Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports

Beer:  Peak Organic, Summer Session – Portland, ME.  Not your typical summer beer, this one’s got that rye, almost bitterly sweet taste to it.  The right choice for an IPA drinker looking to go “light”.

Breakdown:  The B’s look strong, taking a 3-0 series lead against New York.  Organic seems to be the trend for them as they’ve stopped trying to force things like they were against Toronto.  Instead, they’re playing an aggressive, confident team game, determined to let their opportunities come to them and take advantage.  Case in point? The Merlot line was on the ice for both of Boston’s goals tonight.  While the Rangers defense was busy tracking the top three lines all night, it allowed these muckers to slide right in and help grind out a couple of timely scores.  Without the Bruins commitment to play a team game, a strategy where they just put the pedal to the medal and wait for the wear down, this series would have a very different tone.

The Bruins have gained a wealth of confidence since turning it on against the Leafs during desperate times.  It’s really starting to show against these Rangers.  While New York has the ability to turn it on and score some skilled goals at any point, the Bruins are taking them out of their element by controlling the play in the offensive and neutral zones.  Right before they scored in the second period, the Rangers were playing a desperate (in a bad way) style of hockey, with guys trying to overpower their way through 3 or 4 Bruins at a time.  As NBC analysts pointed out, that’s not the way for anyone to win a hockey game.

Tuukka Rask had a light night, facing just 24 shots.  Still, he made a few key saves earlier in the game which allowed Boston’s forwards to keep patient and continue plugging away.  Meanwhile, Henrik Lundqvist continues to play out of this world, making un-godly saves against some prime Bruins opportunities.  It looked for a while like he might steal one tonight, but the Rangers inability to crack the B’s defense… plus a funny bounce, proved to be the difference.  King Henrik will need to shut Boston out for New York to have any chance in Game 4.  The Bruins are starting to look allot like they did in 2011.

Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

B’s fans may still be riding high on the emotions of Monday’s stunning comeback against Toronto, but they’re likely to be slapped back to Earth a bit come Thursday’s matchup against the 6th seeded Rangers.  Make no bones about it, this week’s 3rd period turnaround was nothing short of miraculous.  At one point, even Jack Edwards was declaring that the Leafs would eliminate the Bruins and move on.  Instead, they found that much talked about “missing” gear and played like the Cup contenders that many feel they are.

If the series against the Leafs taught us anything, it’s that nothing comes easy for these Bruins.  With two chances to clinch, they couldn’t pull things together.  Meantime, instead of resting up for the next series, they lost three defensemen to injury.  Toronto’s speed and grit proved a tough match for Boston at times, and where that came from, New York’s got more.  The Rangers also have a proven goalie in Henrik Lundqvist.  If the B’s can make James Reimer look like Patrick Roy, Lundqvist might as well be working on his best Ken Dryden stick lean now.  This series will come down to the battle between him and Tuukka Rask, who answered the critics with a strong first round performance.  While he wasn’t the “carry them on his back” kind of goalie Tim Thomas was two years ago, Rask made the big saves he needed to, kept the Bruins around late in contests, and never actually cost his team a game.  Rask will be the single most important factor in the B’s chances of winning this series.  As good as he was against the Leafs, he’ll need to be even better against New York.

Some of the B’s youngest guns will also need to step up.  With Dennis Seidenberg, Wade Redden, and Andrew Ference all looking to miss time, rookies Dougie Hamilton, Matt Bartkowski, and even Torey Krug will all be counted on to protect the net and, above all else, move that puck!  Captain Zdeno Chara will also need to step up his game.  Likely playing even more time than usual, Chara will be tested often by the Rangers speedy forwards.  He’ll need to plant that big frame in their path, force them to the outside, and then punish them against the boards.  Tyler Seguin, Brad Marchand, and Jaromir Jagr will also be looked upon to pick up the offense and take some of the stress off the depleted D after being largely invisible against Toronto.  Goals were hard to come by against Reimer.  Getting to Lundqvist early and often could tilt the mental scales in this series.

Momentum is the final key to this matchup.  Both teams have it after emotional 7 game series’ against evenly matched opponents with something to prove.  The Rangers found their stride against a frustrated Washington club, shutting them out in the final two games and hanging a 5 spot in the clincher.  Meanwhile, the Bruins timely awakening from the dead was one for the ages.  The B’s NEED to build on the traction they created in the last 15 minutes of that hockey game.  They showed what kind of team they can be.  Now they need to stay at that level to remain in the playoffs.  There are no more off days for this club.

The health of the Bruins defense goes a long way in determining how this series plays out.  If Redden and Seidenberg can come back and be effective, they stand a chance at eeking out victory.  Otherwise, a strong Rangers club may come out on top.  Expect battles in the crease, both in the form of superb goaltending… and the scrums that erupt around them.

Prediction:  Rangers in 7 games.

Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

Beer:  Elder Betty – Magic Hat, Vermont.   A tasty, fruitful concoction brewed with real elderberries.  A unique twist that’s rare to match.

Breakdown:  No need to call the electric company because the juice is flowing full blast.  After a bit of a shaky start, the Bruins found their playoff stride and didn’t look back.  They took advantage of a young team, particularly goaltender James Reimer, and exploited their inexperience to the max.  The B’s won the small battles, especially in the corners and neutral zone and were able to turn them into a barrage or scoring chances.  Boston was physical, fast, and dominant on special teams.  Wade Redden proved his worth by factoring in on both of Boston’s first two goals, while also playing the body in the defensive end.  The biggest show of grit?  Nathan Horton and David Krejci’s unofficial “assists” on their own goals. Pay attention to both tallies, you’ll notice each guy set the table for another Bruin, only to be rewarded for not giving up and crashing the net.  It’s that kind of dogged presence that makes the difference come Playoff time.  Tuukka Rask played strongly, making the stops he needed to in order to keep the B’s on top.  Toronto’s shenanigans at the end of the game, with the goon line taking blatant shots at the B’s, shows a clearly desperate team just one game into this series.  With two days to rest, Boston needs to keep the energy flowing while James Reimer swats imaginary pucks in his sleep.