Just under an hour before the Bruins & Rangers go head-to-head in Game 4 at MSG #nhlbruins
Game Four Preview: BOS @ NYR -
BostonBruins.com - The last time the Bruins swept a postseason series was during their 2011 Stanley Cup run. They took down the Philadelphia Flyers in the second round that season, just a year after the Flyers completed a historic comeback against Boston.
There is no revenge on the line tonight when the Bruins take on the New York Rangers in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, but there is motivation for the B’s to end things quickly. It was less than two weeks ago that Toronto surged back, after Boston had held the 3-1 series lead.
They want to put to bed the idea any sort of idea they have trouble closing out series and do not want to return to Boston after the game, unless it is to prepare for the Eastern Conference Finals.
“It would be nice [to close out the series],” said Bruins center David Krejci prior to Game Four. “But we know, we learned that the last one is the hardest in past years and even in the last series. Just got to get ready for [tonight] and play just like it’s a Game One.”
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“We’ve seen, not only this year, but other years and other series, that the last one is the hardest one to get. Maybe we don’t need to so much focus on it being the fourth win, as much as just coming out and playing a good game.”
— Bruins defenseman Adam McQuaid, on not letting the “fourth win is the hardest” mindset get in the way…
NEW YORK, NY - Bruins defenseman Johnny Boychuk is usually known for his rugged toughness.
He’s the type of player that would dive in front of a Zdeno Chara 108 mile-an-hour blast if he had to.
When he was hurting after blocking a shot on a shift in the first round of the playoffs against Toronto, he powered through - essentially hunched over and with only one leg able to skate - thwarting another shot attempt, sliding to the boards, inching his way back in front of Tuukka Rask, before the puck finally got out of the zone.
“You try to just block anything and do anything. You’re not really doing any good if you’re lying down,” the blueliner had said.
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Business as Usual for Torey Krug -
BostonBruins.com – Torey Krug has been a revelation for the Bruins in their second round playoff series against the New York Rangers. Stepping into the lineup because of a depleted defense corps, the 22-year-old Providence call-up scored a goal each in the first two games of the series – his first two career Stanley Cup Playoff games.
He has been solid in the defensive end, mostly playing alongside Adam McQuaid, and has shown his skills skating with the puck.
With Dennis Seidenberg, Wade Redden and Andrew Ference on the mend, and Krug and fellow blueliners, Dougie Hamilton and Matt Bartkowski playing so well, B’s Head Coach Claude Julien and his staff will have some decisions to make on the back end.
But no matter what, Krug will keep things status quo. Until that time comes, he will continue to play his calm, confident game.
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Communication Has Calming Effect on Back End -
NEW YORK, NY - The Bruins always preach about how confident and calm their steady goaltender Tuukka Rask is between the pipes. He’s always a “calming influence,” they say. But it’s not just the confidence the B’s have in knowing he will stop the puck nearly every time he sees it. The netminder’s communication with his teammates, primarily the defensemen, goes a long way.
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Seidenberg Getting Close to Return -
NEW YORK, NY - The Bruins held an optional practice at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday afternoon, in between their 2-1 win and Game Four tomorrow night, in which they could close out the series against the New York Rangers.
Dennis Seidenberg was among the group of six defensemen (with Krug, Johnson, Redden, Bartkowski and Hamilton) and seven forwards (Jagr, Seguin, Kelly, Campbell, Soderberg, Pandolfo, Daugavins) who opted to hit the ice, along with Anton Khudobin and goaltending coach Bob Essensa in full pads, as Tuukka Rask stayed off to rest.
Following the skate, Seidenberg said that he felt good out on the ice and that he’s “getting better every day.”
“There’s a chance, for sure,” said the blueliner, when asked by media if there was a chance he could play Thursday. “Again, you don’t want to come back too early, so I think we’ll see how it feels tomorrow and go from there.”
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Dennis Seidenberg glides by the bench as he readjusts his glove at pregame skate #nhlbruins
Zdeno Chara and the Bruins are on the ice at MSG for pregame skate before Game 4 #nhlbruins