ECSF Game 2: Bruins Pound Rangers 5-2 To Take 2-0 Series Lead
The New York Rangers kept it close for the first half of the game, but Boston took control over the last 30 minutes to take game 2 of their second round series 5-2. It wasn’t as one-sided as the score would indicate but Tuukka Rask turned aside 35 of 37 Rangers’ shots.
May 19, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Bruins center Brad Marchand (63) scores a goal on New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist (30) during the third period in game two of the second round of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
Boston got on the board first with rookie defenseman Torey Krug scoring for the second second game in a row, in the game’s 6th minute. Ryan Callahan answered that one less than 3 minutes later, blocking a pass and breaking in alone and tucking one past Rask to even the score.
Again, the Bruins took the lead with Gregory Campbell lifting a loose puck on his backhand to the top shelf past Henrik Lundqvist, just 2:24 into the period. Again, that lead didn’t last long as Rick Nash scored his first goal of these playoffs on a nice rush, beating Rask far side, less than a minute after Campbell’s goal. Just past the twelve minute mark, Johnny Boychuk scored what would turn out the be the game winner, taking a drop pass from Brad Marchand and using teammate Patrice Bergeron as a screen so Lundqvist couldn’t pick up Boychuk’s wrister.
Marchand doubled the lead in the first minute of the third, on a play that looked remarkably similar to his OT winner in game 1. Bergeron’s pass from the side boards was tipped past Lungqvist by the Bruins’ pest. Milan Lucic sealed the deal with over 7 minutes left, tucking in a loose puck from behind the net to make it 5-2.
Rask was execptional for the Bruins, while the Rangers’ defensive pairing of Dan Girardi and Michael Del Zotto were not. Girardi was on the ice for all 5 Bruins’ goals, and Del Zotto was his partner for the last 4.
The series returns to Madison Square Garden for game 3 on Tuesday night. New York also lost the first two games in round 1 against the Washington Capitals before taking both at home to even the series. They are now 1-5 on the road, with the lone win being game 7 against the Caps.