Careless B’s Lose Game 4 In OT

Friday, May 24, 2013

Scott Cordischi, GoLocalWorcester Sports Editor

Bring on the Penguins?

Not so fast!

Despite outplaying the Rangers once again, the B's were victimized by their own sloppy play helping the Rangers to a 4-3 overtime win in game 4. That win now gives New York some life in this Eastern Conference Semifinal series.

With their backs to the wall, the Rangers didn't exactly come out flying to start the game. Boston dominated the first period outshooting New York 12-4. However, solid goaltending by Henrik Lundqvist kept the game scoreless after one.

But the B's would seemingly take control of the game with two goals early in the second period.

Boston put two quick ones by Lundqvist. At 4:39 of the second, Nathan Horton (5th goal of the playoffs) beat Lundqvist from a tough angle putting Boston up 1-0 and quieting the Garden crowd.

Just 3 minutes later, rookie defenseman Torey Krug scored his third goal of the series on a presicion slap shot from the point putting Boston up 2-0 completely silencing the fans in blue shirts.

But, only a minute later, Carl Hagelin was breaking in from the right circle when Tuukka Rask moved to his left to cover the short side. Rask skate slipped out from under him as Hagelin started to move back toward the slot. Hagelin lost the puck which slowly slid toward the net as a sliding Rask watched it helplessly go by him.

Leading 2-1 entering the third, more sloppy play cost the B's.

Captain Zdeno Chara circled behind his own net not knowing that Derek Stepan was right behind him. Chara let the puck come off his stick and Stepan picked it up on the wrap-around beating Rask who was slow to cover the post and, just like that, the game was tied 2-2 justr 1:15 into the third.

With the Garden crowd in a frenzy, Boston's Tyler Seguin quieted them once again with his first goal of the playoffs on a putback of his own shot. It was 3-2 Boston less than midway through the third.

Moments later, the B's were whistled for having too many men on the ice giving the Rangers anemic power play another chance. They cashed in on that opportunity.

Brian Boyle's third goal of the playoffs beat Rask for the equalizer tying the game at 3 with 10 minutes left in regulation.

Niether team would score from that point on in regulation and the game headed to overtime.

Just over 7 minutes in, Rick Nash found Chris Kreider cutting down the slot for the game-winner sending the series back to Boston for game 5 Saturday at 5:30pm.

NOTES:

-Boston's record is now 3-1 this postseason in OT while the Rangers improved to 1-3 in OT for the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

-Despite the Rangers finally breaking through on the power play (1-4), Boston had a better night with the man advantage. The B's went (2-4) with the man advantage with goals by Horton and Krug.

Torey Krug

-If there has been an MVP of this series for Boston, it just might be rookie defenseman Torey Krug. In addition to the three goals he scored in this series, he played solid defense and his speed in open ice was a tremendous asset. Tuukka Rask also had a solid series despite the two mistakes he made in game 4.

-Many are wondering if John Tortorella will be coaching the Rangers next season if they don't rally to win this series. Despite their come-from-behind win over Washington in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, New York has looked lost at times in their series against Boston.

-Veteran center Brad Richards was a healthy scratch before game 4 for the Rangers. The 33-year old who won a Cup with Tortorella in Tampa Bay signed a 9-year, $60 million dollar deal with the Rangers in 2011. Richards said that he was "disappointed" with the decision at the team's pregame skate Thursday.