Rangers 4, Bruins 3 (OT): Chris Kreider scored 7:03 into overtime as host New York extended its Eastern Conference second-round series by preventing a sweep at the hands of its Original Six rival.
The Rangers won a defensive-zone faceoff before Kreider fed Rick Nash at center ice. Nash stopped above the right faceoff circle and wristed a centering feed to Kreider, who gained a step on rookie defenseman Dougie Hamilton and deflected the puck past Tuukka Rask (28 saves) to end the contest.
Brian Boyle scored his team's first power-play goal of the series to forge a 3-3 tie exactly 10 minutes into the third period. Carl Hagelin and Derek Stepan also tallied and Henrik Lundqvist (37 saves) improved to 4-11 in career playoff overtime contests for the sixth-seeded Rangers, who will travel to Boston for Game 5 on Saturday.
Nathan Horton scored a power-play goal and set up defenseman Torey Krug's tally with the man advantage. Tyler Seguin netted his first goal of the postseason in the third period for the fourth-seeded Bruins, who fell to 3-1 in overtime decisions.
With the teams tied at 2-2, Seguin reeled in a cross-slot feed from Hamilton and wired a shot on Lundqvist. The reigning Vezina Trophy winner made the save with his right pad, but Seguin cleaned up the rebound at 8:06 of the third period. Boyle answered when his wrist shot from the slot beat Rask inside the left post.
GAME NOTEBOOK: After Boston seized a 2-0 lead early in the second period, the Rangers trimmed the deficit 58 seconds later - with a big assist from Rask. Hagelin's weak backhand shot from the slot caused the goaltender to trip over his own skates - and the puck skidded under the Rask's stick before crossing the goal line. Stepan knotted the contest at 2-2 after stripping Bruins captain Zdeno Chara of the puck behind the net before beating Rask to the near post. ... New York C Brad Richards, who was the 2004 Conn Smythe Trophy winner, was a healthy scratch after recording just one goal in the postseason. Cs Micheal Haley and Kris Newbury joined veteran D Roman Hamrlik in the lineup while RW Arron Asham and D Anton Stralman were spectators. ... Prior to Boyle's goal, the Rangers failed to score on their first 12 opportunities with the man advantage in the series. New York, which went 1-for-4 in the game, is 3-for-42 in the playoffs.
Boston | NY Rangers | |
Nathan Horton 2 | Points | Derek Stepan 2 |
Nathan Horton 1 | Goals | Derek Stepan 1 |
Nathan Horton 1 | Assists | Derick Brassard 2 |
Nathan Horton 1 | Power Play Goals | Brian Boyle 1 |
N/A | Short Handed Goals | N/A |
Tuukka Rask .875 | Save Percentage | Henrik Lundqvist .925 |
Tuukka Rask 28 | Saves | Henrik Lundqvist 37 |
Team | Shots | Goals | Power Play | Penalty Kill | Penalty Mins | Face Offs Won |
Boston | 40 | 3 | 2-4 | 3-4 | 8 | 29 |
NY Rangers | 32 | 4 | 1-4 | 2-4 | 8 | 25 |