ECSF Game 4 – Rangers Avoid Elimination With 4-3 OT Victory

With their prized free agent acquisition from the summer of 2011 sitting out as a healthy scratch, the New York Rangers avoided being swept at the hands of the Boston Bruins, by virtue of a 4-3 overtime victory.

May 23, 2013; New York, NY, USA; New York Rangers left wing Chris Kreider (20) celebrates after scoring the game-winning goal on Boston Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask (40) during overtime in game four of the second round of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Rangers win 4-3 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports

Rookie Chris Kreider was the hero in extra time, redirecting a Rick Nash pass on the rush past Boston goalie Tuukka Rask just over 7 minutes into OT.  The win was the first of the series for the Rangers, who still face a huge 3-1 hole that they will need to climb out of if they want to advance to round 3.

The Rangers trailed 2-0 after a pair of Boston power play goals in the first half of the second period.  Nathan Horton and Torey Krug did the honors as the Bruins looked to be in control.  Carl Hagelin got one back for New York less than a minute after Krug’s goal, and then early in the third Derek Stepan tied it up on the wrap-around.  Tyler Seguin put the Bruins back up by one just over 8 minutes into the third, but Brian Boyle tied it up less than 2 minutes later as the Rangers inept power play finally clicked

Rask wasn’t his usual stellar self in this one, allowing a couple of questionable goals among the 32 shots he faced, while Henrik Lundqvist was good enough to force a game 5 on Saturday in Boston.

Puck drop for Game 5 will be at 5:30 pm