The New York Rangers are ready to hit the road for their Game 2 playoff series against the Boston Bruins after taking care of the Capitals and both teams are coming off of Game 7 victories in the first round.
The Rangers exploded for five goals in Game 7 against the Capitals, ending a road losing streak in the playoffs and finally coming up with a big offensive outburst after being shutout in Game 2. The Rangers looked left for dead after dropping Game 5 in Washington, but the team was able to rebound with a win at Madison Square Garden and then hit the road and win Game 7 in Washington.
The Rangers got some fantastic goalie play from Henrik Lundqvist after two straight shutouts to the end the series and the team was able to completely shut down Alex Ovechkin, keeping him without a point for five straight games. The Rangers had the first goal of the series with a first period score from forward Carl Hagelin, but after that the team didn't score until Game 3, which they won 4-3 before winning Game 4 with the same score. The Rangers know what its like to play seven game series after doing it twice last season and now the team is ready for another against a team that just did the same. The Bruins had a tough series against the Maple Leafs and ended up winning in Game 7 after making a furious comeback of three goals in the third period before Patrice Bergeron scored the winner in the extra period.
Bruins forward Jaromir Jagr will play against his old team in this series and the Rangers know that he can be deadly despite his old age. The rangers have been excellent at blocking shots during the playoffs and the Bruins have a number of players with hard slap shots. Dan Girardi has been excellent on defense and was one of the main reasons why Ovechkin was shut down in the last series and he led the league with over 120 blocked shots this season in the NHL, while Ryan McDonagh and Ryan Callahan have gotten in on the action as well.
Rick Nash and Brad Richards have not been scoring much in the playoffs so far, but the two will be ready to step up in the second round against Boston. The Rangers have been saved by a late season acquisition in Derek Brassard, who is leading the team in scoring in the playoffs after coming over in the deal for Marian Gaborik to the Blue Jackets. Brassard scored the first power play goal for the Rangers in the last series and is leading the team with nine points, two goals and seven assists. Bruins Dave Krejci is doing the same with 13 points, five goals and eight assists, including a hat trick against the Maple Leafs.