May 19, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Bruins defenseman Torey Krug (47) checks New York Rangers forward Taylor Pyatt (14) during the third period of game two of the second round of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Michael Ivins-USA TODAY Sports
There were questions going into game two last night. Could the rookie defensemen keep the pressure up against the Rangers? Would the team be able to maintain that level on intensity and find ways around Henrik Lundqvist’s stubborn goaltending? Most importantly, could the Bruins get another win at home and carry that momentum with them as they headed out to New York City? Once again, the answer was a resounding yes on all counts.
Torey Krug scored the first goal at 5:28 of the first period. It was his second goal in as many games. The last time a Bruin pulled off that trick was Tyler Seguin in 2011, and as I recall that was a very good year for us. The first two period of the game had Bruins scoring with the Rangers firing right back. The Rangers’ captain Ryan Callahan tied it less than three minutes later after a sloppy pass led to a Ranger breakaway. Gregory Campbell made it 2-1 at 2:24 of the second period, and New York pulled even again 56 seconds later on Rick Nash’s goal.
The third goal however, there was no response for. Towards the end of game one with less than a second left to play in regulation, Johnny Boychuk fired one of his “Johnny Rockets” at Lundqvist, but the shot bounced off the post. This time, the Johnny Rocket sailed into the crease to give the Bruins a 3-2 lead. That lead held into the end of the second period.
“Guys are really trying to stay focused on doing their job in the third period,” said Brad Marchand in the locker room after the game. “We know how important are, especially after what we went through being down by a few goals. We know that it’s possible for any team to come back from any score, so we want to make sure we don’t let up.”
The Bruins didn’t let up. In a goal that looked oddly similar to the game one overtime winner, Patrice Bergeron sailed down the right side with Marchand completing a similar interior route. Bergeron passed it to Marchand as he turned past the goal, and got it past Lundqvist to bring the Bruins a two goal lead. (Rookie D-man Matt Bartkowski got an assist on that goal.) The Krejci line also stamped ‘PAID in FULL’ on Lundqvist’s hide as Krejci got a pass to Lucic in close who jammed in to make it 5-2 (Dougie Hamilton got an assist there.)
Gregory Campbell ended up with the ‘Star of the Game’ Ranger jacket for his performance. The Rangers tried to bring a stronger physical game in the third., and when Derek Dorsett tried to make it really physical, Campbell stood up and did his share to shut them down. “Our line put some pressure on ourselves to help out in that aspect.” offered Campbell. “As I said, it’s not our main job, but it helps out in games, and as we get further into the playoffs, teams get better defensively, and games get closer. Sometimes it’s not the usual suspects that chip in, and it has to be the other guys.”
Tuukka Rask stopped thirty five of thirty seven, and once again covered the B’s butts in the clutch. “”You have to give Tuukka a lot of credit,” Coach Claude Julien said. ”Turnovers and giveaways in the second period are not something we do too much, and it could have been disastrous.” The Bruins are now up 2-0, and take on the Rangers at Madison Square Garden tomorrow night at 7:30.