The Bruins dispatched the Rangers in a 5-2 blowout win in Game 2 on Sunday. (AP)

The Bruins took a 2-0 series lead over the Rangers in the Eastern Conference semifinals with a 5-2 victory Sunday at TD Garden.

Unlike their previous two games, the B’s didn’t need overtime to secure the victory, as they added to a 3-2 lead entering the third period with goals from Brad Marchand and Milan Lucic. The game marked the first time in 32 starts against the Bruins that Henrik Lundqvist allowed more than three goals. The last time Lundqvist allowed five goals in a game was on March 9, 2011.

Torey Krug got the B’s on the board in the first period with his second goal in as many career NHL playoff games, but Ryan Callahan answered in short order by capitalizing on a Marchand turnover and some sluggish work from Dougie Hamilton. The B’s took a 2-1 lead on a goal from Gregory Campbell off a rebound from a Krug shot, with the Rangers once again answering in short order on Rick Nash‘s first goal of the postseason. Johnny Boychuk gave the B’s a third lead with his third goal of the playoffs, and that was the lead that stuck.

The series will resume in New York, where the teams will play Game 3 on Tuesday and Game 4 on Thursday.

WHAT WENT RIGHT FOR THE BRUINS

- How about that defense? Boychuk’s goal marked the Bruins’ 11th goal from a defenseman in nine games this postseason.

- With three points in two games, the Bruins have to be thrilled with the production they’ve gotten from Krug. He’s put up such numbers while getting the least amount of ice time amongst Bruins’ blueliners, too, so he’s making the most of his time.

Though Krug is a strong skater and certainly is creating in the offensive zone, he’s still probably behind Matt Bartkowski when it comes to his likelihood of sticking in the lineup when everyone is healthy. Bartkowski finished third on the Bruins in time on ice again and is clearly the most likely to stick and should replace Wade Redden if and when the trio of injured defensemen are ready to go. Read the rest of this entry »

Both Dennis Seidenberg and Wade Redden skated on Sunday, but both are out of the lineup for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Rangers, Bruins coach Claude Julien said prior to the game.

Andrew Ference will also miss the game and has yet to skate since missing Game 6 against the Maple Leafs. With the trio of injured defensemen out, rookies Matt Bartkowski, Dougie Hamilton and Torey Krug will be in the lineup again.

For more on the Bruins, visit weei.com/bruins.

The Bruins got a couple of positive signs regarding their injured defensemen Saturday, with Dennis Seidenberg skating prior to practice and Wade Redden returning to practice.

Following the skate, Claude Julien told reporters that Seidenberg will not play in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Rangers, while Redden will be a game-time decision. Ference has yet to skate since missing Game 6 of the first round against the Maple Leafs.

Though the Bruins struggled at points without the defensemen, they have won both games played without all three, as Seidenberg left after two minutes of Game 7 against Toronto and all three players sat out for Game 1 against the Rangers.

For more on the Bruins, visit weei.com/bruins.

Bruins coach Claude Julien said Friday that there is a possibility the B’s could start getting some of their injured defensemen back as early as Sunday’s Game 2 against the Rangers. Dennis Seidenberg, Andrew Ference and Wade Redden all missed Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals due to undisclosed injuries.

The Bruins did not practice on Friday, but Seidenberg did walk through their dressing room without a limp during media availability.

“It’s a little early to say,” Julien said of his injured defensemen. “It is two days [of rest] and two days in the playoffs makes a big difference as far as getting guys back. So, there’s a possibility, that much I can say. Whether it will or not, too early to say right now.”

For more on the Bruins, visit weei.com/bruins.

Brad Marchand celebrates his overtime goal that beat the Rangers in Game 1 Thursday night. (AP)

Overtime once again was the Bruins’ friend as Brad Marchand scored the game-winner to give the B’s a 3-2 win over the Rangers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals Thursday night at TD Garden. The goal was Marchand’s first of the playoffs, and the Bruins now have won two straight overtime games and all three overtime contests this postseason.

After a scoreless first period, Zdeno Chara got a slap shot through from the point that trickled past Henrik Lundqvist, ending the goalie’s shutout streak at 152:23. Ryan McDonagh scored on a laser from the left point that Tuukka Rask didn’t see with bodies in front of him. The goal came with 1.3 seconds left in the second, and Derek Stepan scored 14 seconds into the third to give the Rangers the lead on two goals in a span of 15.3 seconds. It was Torey Krug, playing in his first career NHL playoff game after playing only one regular-season game for Boston this season, who tied it with a slap shot on the power play.

Krug, Matt Bartkowski and Dougie Hamilton were called upon Monday, as Dennis Seidenberg, Andrew Ference and Wade Redden were out of action due to various undisclosed injuries. Game 2 will be played Sunday at TD Garden.

WHAT WENT RIGHT FOR THE BRUINS

• The Rangers might regret not taking advantage of this one later in the series if those defensemen are back. On the other hand, give guys like Krug and Hamilton credit for making the most of their responsibilities. Hamilton showed some of that much-talked-about poise on his pass to Krug on the power play to set up Boston’s second goal.

• David Krejci picked up the primary assist on Chara’s goal, which means he now has an NHL-best 14 points (five goals, nine assists) through eight games this postseason.

• Though they didn’t score on it, the Bruins turned in a very strong power play following a Derek Dorsett interference penalty in overtime. The B’s managed six shots on goal during the man advantage — three from Chara and one apiece from Seguin, Hamilton and Jaromir Jagr.

• Once again, the back end was a source of offense for the Bruins. After the B’s got six goals from their defensemen against the Maple Leafs, they got two more Thursday from Chara and Krug.

• Speaking of the Bruins’ D, Bartkowski is just oodles more confident these days than he had been in the past with the Bruins. The same kid who was once too afraid of messing up is skating with the puck, hitting guys and doing everything in between. After losing his stick in the neutral zone, Bartkowski lit up Rick Nash, much to the delight of the crowd. Bartkowski was on the ice for both New York goals, but he’s been a very important part of this team’s defense since stepping in. He was third on the Bruins in time-on-ice in regulation, skating 21:55.

Read the rest of this entry »

Dennis Seidenberg

Dennis Seidenberg, Andrew Ference and Wade Redden were all absent for the Bruins’ warmup Thursday night, meaning all three are out for Game 1 against the Rangers.

The trio of injured blueliners will be replaced by rookies Matt Bartkowski, Dougie Hamilton and Torey Krug. Bartkowski and Hamilton played two games against the Maple Leafs in the first round, while this will be the first NHL playoff game and fourth game of Krug’s NHL career.

The Bruins lineup in warmups is as follows:

Milan Lucic – David Krejci – Nathan Horton
Brad Marchand – Patrice Bergeron – Jaromir Jagr
Rich Peverley – Chris Kelly – Tyler Seguin
Daniel Paille – Gregory Campbell – Shawn Thornton

Zdeno Chara – Dougie Hamilton
Matt Bartkowski – Johnny Boychuk
Torey Krug – Adam McQuaid

Tuukka Rask

For more on the Bruins, visit weei.com/bruins.

John Tortorella only wants to talk about the Rangers. (AP)

Rangers coach John Tortorella grew up around these parts. He went to high school at Concord-Carlisle and played college hockey at Maine. Now the Rangers’ head coach is back in New England to coach against the Bruins in the Eastern Conference semifinals, so how does he –

“Don’t ask me questions about me,” Tortorella said. “Ask me about the team, please.”

And we’re off.

Tortorella is known for his unusual dealings with the media. Like Bill Belichick, he doesn’t have much interest in divulging information or patience for questions he doesn’t like, but unlike Belichick, he can be confrontational about it. That’s not a knock on him; it’s just the way he is with the media.

On Thursday, Claude Julien‘s press conference concluded with Channel 7′s Rhett Lewis asking if the Boston coach had any pointers for getting reporters to answer their questions.

“I’m sure he’s excited about answering your questions,” Juien said with a grin. “Good luck, guys!”

And then Julien, almost in drop-the-mic fashion, got up and left. Then Tortorella came in, and things weren’t so funny.

On both Wednesday and Thursday, Julien had some nice words for Tortorella, saying Thursday that even though he didn’t plan on talking to him during the series, he can appreciate him as a coach.

“I certainly respect him for what he’s done and who he is,” Julien said. “He has his own personality and I’m one of those people that respect people for who they are. I’ve had some good chats with John in the past.”

Tortorella didn’t exactly return the favor.

“I’m not going to talk about him,” he said. “I’ll talk about the Rangers.”

This series could come down to goaltending, as two of the league’s goaltenders in Henrik Lundqvist and Tuukka Rask will face one another. What does Tortorella think of Rask as a player?

“I don’t coach him,” he said. “I’ll answer questions about the Rangers.”

Tortorella was then asked about getting more zone time on the power play as the Rangers’ first-round series against the Capitals went on. The Rangers were 2-for-28 on the man advantage against the Capitals over the seven-game series.

“Eh, it still wasn’t good,” Tortorella said of the power play.

The Rangers’ coach isn’t a man of many words, but this will certainly be an interesting series with him around.

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