ECQF Game 1 – Bruins Work More OT Magic To Take Series Lead
For 60 minutes, the first playoff game in 40 years between the New York Rangers and Boston Bruins was anyone’s game to win. But an early penalty in overtime to the Rangers’ Derek Dorsett gave the Bruins momentum for the entire OT period, and they finally capitalized on it with Brad Marchand‘s first goal of the playoffs.
May 16, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand (63) scores the game-winning goal against New York Rangers goalkeeper Henrik Lundqvist (30) during the overtime period at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Michal Ivins-USA TODAY Sports
After a scoreless first period that saw the teams feel each other out, the Bruins got on the board first in the second. Past the 12 minute mark, Zdeno Chara‘s point shot was stopped 95% by Henrik Lundqvist, but the puck squirted through and after sitting in the crease for a moment, was put in by Lundqvist himself on a weird bounce. A desperation point shot from Ryan McDonagh with less than 3 seconds remaining beat Tuukka Rask over the shoulder. It crossed the line with 1.3 seconds left on the clock to even the score through 2.
The Rangers got their first lead of the game early in the third, as Carl Hagelin found Derek Stepan in the slot for a quick one-timer that beat Rask just 14 seconds into the frame. That lead didn’t last long as Torey Krug, playing his first NHL playoff game, fired a shot from the top of the circle that found the back of the net for the power play goal that tied it up just before the 3 minute mark. That is how it stayed until overtime.
Dorsett’s interference penalty 2:20 into the extra period didn’t result in a goal, but the Bruins recorded 6 shots on goal and had a couple more either blocked of just missing the net as they had Lundqvist under siege. The Bruins kept the pressure on for much of the overtime before Marchand evaded a back-checking Mats Zucarrelo and converted a Patrice Bergeron pass on the 2-on-1 and slid it past Lundqvist on the Bruins’ 16th shot of overtime.
It was a very entertaining game and if it goes 7, it could be a series for the ages. Game 2 goes Sunday afternoon at 3:00.