Marchand’s OT Goal Lifts Boston To A Game One Win

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Friday, May 17, 2013

Scott Cordischi, GoLocalWorcester Sports Editor

The consensus coming into Thursday night's series-opener at the TD Garden was that we could expect a low-scoring defensive rock fight between the Boston Bruins and the New York Rangers.
After all, both teams are defensive-minded with solid netminders and both struggle at times to put the puck in the net.

Game 1 started off as expected. Both teams engaged in a felling out process which resulted in a scoreless first period. The edge went to Boston in the opening 20 minutes as the B's outshot NY 11-8.

In the second period, the Bruins would strike first. A slap shot by captain Zdeno Chara from the point was stopped by Henrik Lundqvist but the puck trickled behind him. As Boston crashed the net in hopes of a rebound, Lundqvist, not knowing where the puck was, knocked into the net himself giving Boston the 1-0 lead at 12:23 of the second.

It appeared that the Bruins would take that 1-0 lead into the locker room after two, but the Rangers were able to beat Tuukka Rask with less than 2 seconds to play in the period. Ryan McDonagh's snap shot from the left wing beat Rask high to tie the game 1-1 after two.

That demoralizing last-second goal may have led to a hangover for Boston to start the third period as the Rangers struck again quickly to start the third. Just 14 seconds in, Derek Stepan beat Rask to give the Rangers their first lead of the game 2-1.

But, as they did in game 7 against Toronto Monday night, the Bruins would battle back.

Just 2:41 later, recently called-up rookie defenseman Torey Krug scored his first career NHL goal (and playoff goal) as his slapper beat Lundqvist on the power play to tie the game 2-2.

The Bruins almost won the game in the final second of the third period when Johnny Boychuck's slap shot went off the post as the green light came on ending regulation time. Then it was off to overtime in game 1.

Just over 2 minutes into the first overtime, Boston went on the power play and put relentless pressure on Lundqvist. Jaromir Jagr hit the post, Milan Lucic fanned on a wrap around pass from Chara and Seguin's slapper was stopped by Lundqvist. But the game remained tied 2-2 when it was over.

Later in the first overtime, Boychuck hit the post for a second time on a slapper that was tipped by Greggory Campbell.

But with 4:20 left in the first overtime, Patrice Bergeron found Brad Marchand cutting to the net who beat Lundqvist 5-hole for the game-winner.

NOTES:

-With Boston's blue line depleted due to injury (Dennis Seidenberg, Wayne Redden, Andrew Ference all out), the B's went with 3 rookies on defense. Krug scored his first careern goal and was joined by fellow rookies Dougie Hamilton and Matt Bartkowski. Krug's young and seemingly fresh legs were noticeable particularly in overtime.

-Boston enjoyed the edge on special teams cashing in on 1 of their 4 power plays in game 1. The Rangers were 0-3.

-Tyler Seguin was robbed of a possible go-ahead power play goal in the closing minute on a great diving block by Dan Girardi. Girardi led the NHL with 125 blocked shots during the regular season.

-How much do the Bruins rely on Zdeno Chara? The B's captain played more than half (30:02) of the game's 60 minutes in regulation which was far more than any other player for wither team. He played 38:02 when  you include overtime. Given the lack of depth on defense due to injury, the B's will lean even more on their captain in thie series.  

-Shots on goal in regulation were in favor of Boston 32-20. But Boston dominated the overtime by outshooting NY 16-5.

-The overtime win was Boston's third of the playoffs. They beat Toronto in games 4 and 7 and the Rangers last night and are now a perfect 3-0 in overtime this postseason.
-1958 was the last time the Bruins and Rangers played an overtime playoff game.

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