Bruins Double Lead Over Rangers

The Boston Bruins welcomed the New York Rangers back to the TD Gardens arena for game two of the series tonight.

First Period

The Bruins were looking to capitalise on their first game victory but were pinned back for the first five minutes. Adam McQuaid made a desperate diving poke check to deny the Rangers. Boston immediately jumped on this and sent the puck up to Torey Krug who displayed some silky skills to pass the puck between his skates and slot past Henrik Lundqvist. 

A few minutes later Ryan Callahan intercepted a stray pass and then won the foot race to go one on one with Tukka Rask. The Rangers' captain made no mistake in finding the net.

Rich Peverley gave the Rangers a powerplay when his high stick caught Rick Nash in the face but Boston was not able to take advantage. 

Shortly after, captain Zdeno Chara was given a minor for slashing. Bizarrely even though the offence was behind Rask's net, it was the official in the neutral zone who made the call. Replays show it was the right call though. The Rangers mustered a few shots but were unable to beat Boston's Finnish goalie.

Second Period

Two minutes into the period, Gregory Campbell was in the right place to tap in Krug's deflected shot. Advantage Boston. The Rangers responded well to the goal and Callahan was unlucky not to get a second. 

The disappointment was short lived as Rick Nash displayed some Pavel Datsyuk levels of deking to beat Rask and restore parity. Chris Kelly and  Derek Dorsett both took a trip to the box for roughing after a dust up in in front of Rask's goal.

The Rangers controlled the resulting four on four but could not get past Rask. Derek Stepan was unlucky to hit the post after some good build up play by by Callahan. 

The B's got their first powerplay after Derick Brassard was caught hooking Dougie Hamilton but could not find the net. Shortly after Brassard returned to the ice, Arron Asham and Shawn Thornton were both sent off for roughing. Johnny Boychuk took advantage of the extra space and rifled a shot past Lundqvist to give Boston the advantage again.

The second period was one for the special teams as no sooner were Asham and Thornton back on the ice, Peverley was given a minor for high sticking Callahan. The Rangers played a superb passing game but didn't have the finish to beat Rask.

Third Period

Brad Marchand opened the scoring in the first minute of the final period after going two on two with Patrice Bergeron. The Rangers were caught sleeping, Lundqvist could do nothing. 4-2 Boston.

Five minutes in, Chara decided to channel Christiano Ronaldo with a stunner of a physics-defying curving shot from the blue line but Lundqvist was equal to it. At the other end Boychuk felt like a sit-down and took a minor for hooking. Unfortunately for the Rangers, it was Tukka Time (it's a thing) and the Finn would not be beaten. Brian Boyle landed a hit on Chara which brought the big Slovakian down. That's an achievement in anyone's book and worth a mention. Less impressive is Boyle's Jack Sparrow-esque playoff beard.

Jaromir Jagr should have added to the B's total with a point blank shot on Lundqvist's stick side but somehow it was saved. Contender for save of the playoffs, if not the whole season. 

With seven minutes left, Milan Lucic made a superb dash down the left to play the puck through to David Krejci who was unable to get past Lundqvist, Lucic however was alert and poked the rebound into the net. 5-2 Bruins.

The celebrations were barely over when when Dorsett and Campbell went at each other in center ice. Both took a fighting major for their troubles.

Thornton finished the game in the box for cross checking. Danny Paille almost made it six for Boston after going one on one with Lundqvist but could only find the frame of the goal. 

That's how it ended. Boston looked comfortable throughout and controlled the game, managing to frustrate the Rangers into making mistakes. 

Both keepers played out of their skins. Despite a relatively one sided game, Rask faced 37 shots, five more than Lundqvist, earning him the game's first star. Ryan Callahan deserves an honourable mention, not only for his goal but because he played like a machine, controlling the team and getting into great positions with the puck.

Boston now lead the series 2-0. Next stop Madison Square Gardens!