Bruins push Rangers to brink of elimination
The Boston Bruins scored twice in the final period to beat the New York Rangers 2-1 at Madison Square Garden and grab a commanding 3-0 lead in their NHL play-off series.
The Rangers, who have struggled on offence throughout the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semi-final, had gone ahead when Taylor Pyatt deflected a wrist shot from Ryan McDonagh in the second period but spent most of the game defending.
New York goaltender Henrik Lundqvist made 32 saves in an outstanding display, but was unable to prevent his team from a loss that left them on the brink of elimination.
"Hopefully it turns around for us in the next game," Lundqvist said. "The game is so fast so the difference between a goal and a save is so close."
Boston goaltender Tuukka Rask stopped 23 of the 24 shots that came the Finn's way as the Bruins, who won the Stanley Cup two years ago, tied the game when Paille fed the puck to Boychuk who got one past Lundqvist.
Paille then put the visitors in front when he pounced on a save by Lundqvist, getting his stick on the puck first and trickling it into the net to give the Bruins the win.
"We felt pretty good the whole game, even when we were down 1-0," Paille said. "Obviously we're confident for the series, but it's not over."
The teams meet again in Manhattan tomorrow with the Rangers needing to win to send the series back to Boston. The eventual winner will play either Pittsburgh or Ottawa in the Eastern Conference final.
"It's one game," New York captain Ryan Callahan said. "We have to win one game at home then go from there. That's the only way we can look at it now."
