By Marie Torto, Boston.com Staff

The Bruins were unable to sweep the Rangers in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals Thursday night in New York's Madison Square Garden and must now try to win the series back in Boston on Saturday. The team said mistakes caused the loss, like Tuukka Rask's tumble and Zdeno Chara's undoing behind the Boston net.

Take a look at the four biggest mistakes the Bruins made that prevented them from sweeping the series.

1. Derek Stepan steals the puck and scores: "I wasn't aware he was right behind me," defenseman Zdeno Chara said after having his pocket picked on the play. "I've got to make sure I take a look."

2. Dougie Hamilton fails to stop Chris Kreider: "Right now, for me, that last goal obviously bugging me and that's a play I have to have and just feel like I kind of let the team down," said Hamilton. "Just pretty upset right now."

3. Bruins called for too many men on the ice and Rangers score tying goal on ensuing power play: "I think it was my fault," winger Tyler Seguin said. "I saw Thorty [Shawn Thornton] coming. I hopped over, and I think he got hit. I haven't seen the replay. He stayed on for an extra second. I don't know exactly the ruling. Our centerman, whoever was out there, touched the puck, not me. I don't know if that's too many men, or if I touch the puck, it's too many men. Regardless, I think it was a close call. They made me pay for it."

4. Tuukka Rask falls, Carl Hagelin scores easy goal: "I just took a step to the side in what I think there was probably a skate mark or something," said Rask. "My skate dug in it, that's what it felt like, and then I lost my balance and the rest is history. It happens to me twice a year in practice, maybe. Focus, got to be more focused, I think, but just a tough mistake. It looks pretty bad on TV, I bet."

By Steve Silva, Boston.com Staff

NEW YORK – The Bruins have fallen. But they can still get up Saturday night and end the series with the Rangers.

With a chance to send the Blue Shirts home for the summer, the Bruins reared their evil Mr. Hyde head Thursday night and turned a 2-0 lead into a 4-3 overtime loss at Madison Square Garden.

The play everyone will be talking about came when Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask payed homage to Jets QB Marc Sanchez and his Thanksgiving butt fumble in the second period. Rask lost his balance setting up for a Carl Hagelin shot, fell to the ice, and watched helplessly as the puck slithered over the goal line to get the Rangers on the board in the second period, cutting the Bruins lead to 2-1.

“I just took a step to the side in what I think there was probably a skate mark or something,’’ said Rask. “My skate dug in it, that’s what it felt like, and then I lost my balance and the rest is history. It happens to me twice a year in practice, maybe. Focus, got to be more focused, I think, but just a tough mistake. It looks pretty bad on TV, I bet.’’

Rask talked about trying – and failing – to recover once he was seated on the ice.

"Just sloppy I think," Rask explained. "It kind of freezes you, like 'what the heck happened,' then you still have a second to decide whether you're going to try to scramble, put the paddle down or just try to whack it away and I just tried to whack it away and I know it's just awful."

Fast forward to sudden death overtime when former Boston College player Chris Kreider notched the game winner with a beautiful tip deflection at 7:03 of sudden death.

“I thought that was the best goal of the night for them,” said Rask. “That was really a good goal on that. Shot first taken, really good tip.”

Bruins defenseman Doug Hamilton was not so quick to credit the Rangers for making a great play on the game-winning goal.

"Right now, for me, that last goal obviously bugging me and that's a play I have to have and just feel like I kind of let the team down," a visibly distraught Hamilton said after the game. "Just pretty upset right now."

Hamilton was reminded that he was not alone in making miscues that ultimately cost the Bruins the sweep.

"I think a little bit sloppy I guess," Hamilton said regarding the Bruins play in Game 4. "That's pretty much it."

Hamilton described what went wrong on the Rangers game winner.

"I had him coming through and I knew exactly what he was going to do," he said. "Just couldn't get his stick in time. He just got it right when the puck was coming there, I just couldn't get his stick … I have to obviously take him away and remove his stick from playing that puck,” Hamilton said. “If I get rid of his stick, the puck goes in the corner and that’s it. That’s the play. Obviously like I said, I'm pretty upset."

Rask agreed that the Bruins had a hand in giving the game to the Rangers.

“We gave them a couple gifts, obviously,” Rask said. “At the end of the day, that’s what cost us a lot of energy.”

Another miscue took place on the Rangers' second goal, which came at 1:15 of the third period and tied the score, 2-2. Rask skated behind the net to attempt to control the puck for defenseman Zdeno Chara, but Rask didn't get back to the crease in a timely manner and the Rangers' Derek Stepan took the puck from Chara and scored a classic wraparound.

“I wasn’t aware he was right behind me,” Chara said. “I’ve got to make sure I take a look.”

“A breakdown in front of our net,’’ was how Rask described the play.

On the bright side for Boston, Tyler Seguin got untracked when he scored his first goal of the postseason, giving the Bruins a short-lived 3-2 lead at 8:06 of the third period.

"Obviously a little bit of a sigh of relief, and maybe even a confidence booster," Seguin said. "It was nice to finally get one in. It was a tough game, it was a weird game, you gotta give credit to them. They played a hard game. We knew it would be a tough one to win. I think a lot of the goals were kind of given to them but they went in."

The Bruins made yet another mental mistake less than one minute after Seguin's go-ahead goal when they were called for having too many men on the ice (channelling Don Cherry in Montreal). The Rangers capitalized on the penalty and tied the game 3-3 when Brian Boyle's wrist shot beat Rask cleanly.

“Stupid mistakes cost us the game,’’ Rask said. “It’s a game of mistakes. We’ve just got to learn from them and move forward. Shake it off and move on."

Bruins coach Claude Julien blamed the sloppy play on execution.

"There's no panic here," Julien said. "Had we been outworked and not been there at all, we would be talking differently here. But we didn't get outworked, and all it was, as a team, we didn't execute as well as we have been. We have to go back home and play a better game."

And now the Bruins will be home and hosting the new-life Rangers Saturday at 5:30 p.m. with hopes of ending the series in five games.

If they don't finish off the Rangers at home, they'll be back in the world's most famous arena Monday and the pressure will be squarely on Boston's back as they're sure to be reminded of the 2010 up-3-games-to-none slide that saw the Philadelphia Flyers advancing to the next round over Rask and Co.

Boston.com's Steve Silva is at Madison Square Garden to provide updates, photos and postgame video from Game 4. Weigh in with your comments and follow the action right here.

By Fluto Shinzawa, Globe Staff

Based on pregame warmups:

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
Anton Khudobin

By Fluto Shinzawa, Globe Staff

Based on pregame warmups:

Chris Kreider-Derick Brassard-Rick Nash
Carl Hagelin-Derek Stepan-Ryan Callahan
Taylor Pyatt-Brian Boyle-Mats Zuccarello
Micheal Haley-Kris Newbury-Derek Dorsett

Ryan McDonagh-Dan Girardi
Michael Del Zotto-Steve Eminger
John Moore-Roman Hamrlik

Henrik Lundqvist
Martin Biron

By Chad Finn, Boston.com Staff

Just a quick reminder that Game 4 of the Bruins' Eastern Conference semifinal series with the Rangers will air on CNBC at 7 p.m.

Yes, CNBC. Right there between Mad Money and and American Greed: The Wealth Builder Club.

Here's why: With the Bruins hold a commanding 3-0 lead in the series, and with two other high-profile and more competitive series in action Thursday, Game 4 has been bumped over from NBC Sports Network to another network under the NBC umbrella.

For the majority of Comcast subscribers in Boston, the game will be found on channels 38 and 795 (high definition).

If you are not a Comcast subscriber or cannot for some reason find the game at those channels, click on this channel-finder link and type in your zip code, cable provider, and CNBC or CNBC HD as the channel you are searching for, and It will tell you where to find it.

NBCSN will carry Game 4 of the Western Conference series between the Red Wings and Blackhawks, with host Detroit holding a surprising 2-1 lead. That game begins at 8 p.m.

Then at 10:30 p.m., Game 5 of the Sharks-Kings series, knotted a 2-2, will follow.

By Fluto Shinzawa, Globe Staff

Dennis Seidenberg and Wade Redden participated in the Bruins' morning skate. It’s unlikely that either defenseman, however, will make his series debut tonight. The other six defensemen took line rushes in their regular spots.

Jaromir Jagr was the only player not to participate in the skate. Jagr took the ice for an optional practice Wednesday, so he was likely taking a rest this morning. Carl Soderberg took Jagr’s spot on the second line for line rushes.

For the Rangers, neither Brad Richards nor Arron Asham is expected to dress. Anton Stralman didn’t skate this morning and is likely out. Ex-Canadien Roman Hamrlik could replace Stralman.

Tonight’s expected Bruins lineup:

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
Anton Khudobin

By Fluto Shinzawa, Globe Staff

NEW YORK – Good morning from Madison Square Garden, where the Bruins will look to sweep the Rangers tonight. Game 5 is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Saturday at TD Garden, but the Bruins have no intentions of making that date.

Dennis Seidenberg said after yesterday’s practice that he’s close to being ready to play. But given the 3-0 series lead and the play of the defense, it’s unlikely the Bruins change the lineup tonight.

On the other side, Anton Stralman didn’t practice yesterday. The second-pairing defenseman might be out tonight. If so, former Boston University captain Matt Gilroy could make his series debut.

Puck drop: 7 p.m.

TV/radio info: NBC Sports Network, 98.5 The Sports Hub (Dave Goucher, Bob Beers)

Records: Bruins 3-0, Rangers 0-3

Projected Rangers lineup:

Mats Zuccarello-Derick Brassard-Rick Nash
Carl Hagelin-Derek Stepan-Ryan Callahan
Taylor Pyatt-Brian Boyle-Derek Dorsett
Chris Kreider-Brad Richards-Arron Asham

Ryan McDonagh-Dan Girardi
Michael Del Zotto-Steve Eminger
John Moore-Matt Gilroy

Henrik Lundqvist
Martin Biron

Healthy scratches: Micheal Haley, Roman Hamrlik

Projected Bruins lineup:

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
Anton Khudobin

Healthy scratches: Aaron Johnson, Kaspars Daugavins, Carl Soderberg, Jay Pandolfo

Storylines: If the Bruins win tonight, they will cede their 2013 first-round pick to Dallas. It was a condition of the Jaromir Jagr trade. The second-round pick becomes a first-rounder if the Bruins qualify for the Eastern Conference Final… Sure looks like a Boston-Pittsburgh matchup in the next round. The Penguins lead the Senators in the series, 3-1. Pittsburgh scored a 7-3 win last night. Game 5 is tomorrow in Pittsburgh… Johnny Boychuk brings a two-game goal-scoring streak into tonight. Torey Krug had his two-game goal-scoring streak snapped on Tuesday… The Rangers haven’t scored a power-play goal in the series. They are 2 for 38 in the playoffs… Stephen Walkom and Eric Furlatt will be the referees. Brian Murphy and Scott Cherrey will be the linesmen.

By Fluto Shinzawa, Globe Staff

NEW YORK – The Bruins could end this second-round series with a fourth straight win in Game 4 Thursday night at Madison Square Garden. They would like to rest on Saturday instead of playing Game 5 at TD Garden. They certainly have no intentions of returning to New York for Game 6 Monday.

“It would be nice,” David Krejci said. “But we know and we learned as a team that the last one is the hardest from past years and even in the last series. We’ve just got to get ready for tomorrow and play just like it’s Game 1.”

Injured defensemen Dennis Seidenberg and Wade Redden participated in an optional practice this afternoon at MSG. Seidenberg said there’s a chance he could be ready Thursday. However, given how well the six-man defensive unit has played in front of Tuukka Rask, it’s unlikely the Bruins would alter their lineup for Game 4.

“There’s a chance for sure,” Seidenberg said of playing. “But you don’t want to come back too early. We’ll see how it feels tomorrow and go from there.”

* Andrew Ference participated in an off-ice workout today. Ference has yet to skate since suffering his lower-body injury in Game 5 against Toronto. Coach Claude Julien said Ference continues to improve. If the Bruins can take care of business Thursday, it will give Ference, Seidenberg, and Redden more time to heal.

By Steve Silva, Boston.com Staff

NEW YORK -- For most of Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden, it was looking like Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist was finally going to have his big game in net. The man who would be King was 5-0 in his last five Game 3 appearances and was shutting down the Bruins at every turn.

But it was the Big Bad Bruins who roared back with a pair of third-period goals created by the fourth line of Greg Campbell, Shawn Thornton, and Daniel Paille that gave Boston a 2-1 victory in Game 3 of their playoff series against the Rangers Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden.

Paille’s goal with 3:31 left in a third period dominated by Boston gave the Bruins the victory and put the Rangers in the unenviable position of having to come back from an 0-3 deficit to keep their season alive.

"It was one of those nights when [Lundqvist] was on his game and you can see the confidence he had throughout the whole game," Paille said. "The goals that went in, there's really nothing much you can do. It was a screen on one and a redirect on another so we tried to do as much as we could, but it wasn't going to be one of those where you're going to beat him clean like the last few games. He was on tonight."

The winning goal was the result of a shot that bounced off Lundqvist and went up into the air. The puck landed on the goal line before Paille came from behind the net to knock it home.

"We did a good job of managing the puck when we had it," Thornton said. "Trying to wait for opportunities to open up, not just throwing pucks away, both my linemates were doing a great job of skating, getting into the forecheck, when they're going, it makes life easy for all of us."

The Black and Gold looked sharp from the start, yet it was the Rangers who took a 1-0 lead into the third period after a Taylor Pyatt goal on a deflection that came 3:53 into the second period. The Bruins turned up the pressure in the third period and outshot the Rangers 34-24 for the game.

Bruins defenseman Johnny Boychuk fired a goal through a screen of players that tied the score just 3:10 into the third period.

"We just wanted to keep it deep and keep getting pucks and bodies to the net," Boychuk said. "There's good things that happened."

The game was nip and tuck all night, with the referees keeping the whistle in the pockets for the most part.

"It was a close game, very close," Bruins captain Zdeno Chara said. "It was pretty even throughout the whole game. We had some chances in the first 20 minutes, but obviously their goalie played really strong. They put a lot of pressure on us and they scored a goal, making it a one goal game going into the third. We had to be more aggressive, and we were."

Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask wasn't challenged nearly as much as Lundqvist, but he stayed focused when the pressure came his way and he came away with the W.

"You've got to be pretty happy with the situation obviously, but can't get ahead of yourself," Rask said on the Bruins 3-0 series lead. "We felt like we played a great game today so we just gotta keep going that way and I think good things will keep happening to us."

Good things usually happen to team up 3-0, but Boston fans remember the 2010 Philadelphia Flyers, who came back from three games down to overtake the Bruins. The only other teams to pull of the feat were the 1975 New York Islanders and the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Bruins have a chance to close this one out Thursday night at MSG and possibly catch a much-needed breather before taking on the winner of the Penguins-Senators series.

Follow the action and discuss Game 3 of the Bruins-Rangers series in our live blog.

By Fluto Shinzawa, Globe Staff

Based on pregame warmups:

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
Anton Khudobin

By Fluto Shinzawa, Globe Staff

Based on pregame warmups:

Mats Zuccarello-Derick Brassard-Rick Nash
Carl Hagelin-Derek Stepan-Ryan Callahan
Taylor Pyatt-Brian Boyle-Derek Dorsett
Chris Kreider-Brad Richards-Arron Asham

Ryan McDonagh-Dan Girardi
Michael Del Zotto-Anton Stralman
John Moore-Steve Eminger

Henrik Lundqvist
Martin Biron

By Fluto Shinzawa, Globe Staff

The Bruins are not planning on making any lineup changes for Game 3. Claude Julien said he would be surprised if Dennis Seidenberg played tonight. Seidenberg was one of the last four players on the ice for today’s optional morning skate (Aaron Johnson, Jay Pandolfo, and Kaspars Daugavins were the others), indicating that he will be out of uniform for a third straight game.

Wade Redden skated this morning. But Redden remained on the ice after Torey Krug had returned to the dressing room.

Tonight’s expected lineup:

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
Anton Khudobin

* The Bruins are expecting Ryan McDonagh and Dan Girardi to play together on the Rangers’ top pairing. They did not play together in Games 1 and 2. Girardi was on the ice for all five Boston goals in Game 2. The two defensemen played against Alex Ovechkin’s line in the opening round.

* With Tuukka Rask staying off the ice this morning, goaltending coach Bob Essensa manned one net while Anton Khudobin patrolled the other crease.

By Fluto Shinzawa, Globe Staff

NEW YORK – Good morning from Madison Square Garden, where the Bruins will look to grab a 3-0 series lead tonight over the Rangers.

Dennis Seidenberg and Wade Redden are with the team. Both defensemen practiced Monday at TD Garden. It’s unlikely, however, that either will draw into the lineup. No changes are expected for the Bruins.

The Rangers, coming off two straight losses, might tinker with their lineup. For now, we’ll go with the Game 2 lineup.

Puck drop: 7:30 p.m.

TV/radio info: NBC Sports Network, 98.5 The Sports Hub (Dave Goucher, Bob Beers)

Records: Bruins 2-0, Rangers 0-2

Projected Rangers lineup:

Mats Zuccarello-Derick Brassard-Rick Nash
Carl Hagelin-Derek Stepan-Ryan Callahan
Taylor Pyatt-Brian Boyle-Derek Dorsett
Chris Kreider-Brad Richards-Arron Asham

Ryan McDonagh-Anton Stralman
Michael Del Zotto-Dan Girardi
John Moore-Steve Eminger

Henrik Lundqvist
Martin Biron

Healthy scratches: Micheal Haley, Roman Hamrlik, Matt Gilroy

Projected Bruins lineup:

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
Anton Khudobin

Healthy scratches: Aaron Johnson, Kaspars Daugavins, Carl Soderberg, Jay Pandolfo

Storylines: This is the second straight series in which the Rangers dropped the first two games. They fell into an 0-2 hole in the opening round against Washington. The Rangers rallied to claim the series in seven games… The Bruins are 21-7 all-time when they’ve won the first two games of a seven-game series… Torey Krug will look to extend his goal-scoring streak to three games. Krug is the fourth player in Bruins history to score goals in his first two playoff games… The Rangers are 2 for 36 on the power play in the playoffs. They have yet to score a man-up goal in the series… Kevin Pollock and Dan O’Rourke will be the referees. Jay Sharrers and Lonnie Cameron will be the linesmen.

By Fluto Shinzawa, Globe Staff

The Bruins are practicing at TD Garden prior to their road trip to New York later today. Dennis Seidenberg and Wade Redden are on the ice for practice.

This is Seidenberg’s first practice with his teammates since suffering his lower-body injury in Game 7 against Toronto. Redden practiced on Saturday. This is Redden’s second on-ice session with the full team.

Given their status, both Seidenberg and Redden should make the trip to New York. Neither has appeared in the series.

UPDATE: Seidenberg and Redden are traveling to New York. Claude Julien said he hasn't made any decisions regarding their respective returns. The defensive pairings were the same in today's practice.

Many readers mentioned how much they missed having Jack Edwards on the call for Bruins playoff games on NESN, so we had him join Boston.com readers for a chat session on Monday.

With the national networks taking over the game broadcasts during the Stanley Cup playoffs conference semifinal round, Edwards and the rest of the NESN crew are continuing to produce complete pre- and postgame coverage on NESNplus with a one-hour edition of Bruins Face-Off LIVE before every playoff game and Bruins Overtime Live after every game. To find the NESNplus channel number in your area visit www.nesn.com/nesnplus.

Review Edwards's Q&A below.

The Bruins defeated the Rangers, 5-2, in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series. Watch a recap of the game at TD Garden.

By Steve Silva, Boston.com Staff

The Bruins took command of the Eastern Conference semifinals with a 5-2 win over the Rangers Sunday at TD Garden, putting them up 2-0 heading to New York.

The Bruins took a 3-2 lead into the third period and cruised past the Rangers in the third when Brad Marchand scored 26 seconds into the period, and Milan Lucic put the game away.

Tuukka Rask was solid in goal, especially in the second period when he made a string of saves to keep the Bruins in the game.

"Yeah, that’s what you have to do sometimes," Rask said. "We were not at our best in the second period. We gave up a lot of odd man opportunities and a lot of turnovers and stuff, but they only got one goal so something positive came out of that period...

"There was plenty of two-on-ones, three-on-twos, and then a couple of turnovers from our D [defensemen]. Then they made some plays from behind the net. I was just in front of the puck, it wasn’t textbook all the time. But despite that goal from [Rick] Nash, I was just jumping."

Rask spoke about his confidence growing as his team goes deeper in the playoffs.

"My confidence is always high," Rask said. "That's just how I try to be. No matter what happens, I try to stay calm and even keeled. Confidence can’t go any lower or higher, I think."

The play of the Bruins young defenseman continued to impress Rask.

"Yeah, they just keep playing their game, that's all that we can ask from them," Rask said. "But we just have to make sure that they don't get too high. It’s still playoff hockey, you don’t want to get too carried away out there. But they're playing great."

Bruins defenseman Johnny Boychuk scored what turned out to be the winning goal in the second period when he fired one past Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist.

"It was definitely a screen," Boychuk said about his goal. "Bergy [Patrice Bergeron] did a good job getting to the front, and their D-man was their as well, but it was four on four. Marchy [Brad Marchand] did a good job by getting in the zone, turned up and found me coming in, and all I had to do was hit the net because there was a couple of guys in front of him."

Boychuk talked about being able to bounce back from the hit he took in the first game.

"It’s playoffs," Boychuk said. "You’ve got to keep going, and you can’t be worried about it, and you just do whatever you can for the team.

Boychuk already has three goals in the playoffs.

"You know, just hitting the net I guess, and sometimes it’s luck," he said. "Just getting shots on net and hitting the net. Better chance to score when you hit the net."

Boychuck spoke about the young defensemen playing well in this series.

"I think skating with the puck [is key]," Boychuk said. "They’ve been doing a good job skating and taking their ice when they get the chance and eliminating the turnovers again is a key and they’re just playing smart… They’ve been amazing. They’re making a case for themselves to stay in the lineup and that’s what you need. You want to stay in the lineup and the way that they’re playing, they’ve been playing very, very good and responsible, and even in the D-zone I’ve been watching they’ve been battling hard and doing the right things and that’s what you need.

Bruins coach Claude Julien was also impressed by the play of his young defense.

"At the stage we’re in right now in the season, we’re talking about the playoffs, the one thing you don’t want to do is make a young defensemen come in and be afraid to play," Julien said. "You’ve got to be willing to live with the consequences. The good part about that it I know they’ve got some good upside to them. [Matt] Bartkowski was sent down at the end of the regular season, so he could continue to play because we really liked his game. [Torey] Krug’s been a good player for Providence all year, we liked what we saw in him last year and when he was called up. It was just a matter of bringing those guys in, saying, ‘Continue to do the things that you do well, because that will also give you success at this level.’ It’s about giving them the confidence to do that. We have to trust that they are good enough in those areas that they’re going to help us out. So far, they’ve proven us right."

Bruins forward Brad Marchand scored for the second game in a row, this time 26 seconds into the third period.

"It’s always good to get a couple-goal lead early in the third there," Marchand said. "Bergy [Patrice Bergeron] made a great play. I think we played pretty well after that to limit their opportunities and played a strong game."

Marchand spoke about curbing his turnovers as the game progressed.

"Yeah, I think I was definitely a little more aware of it," he said. "I think I was maybe a little overconfident. I thought I was controlling the puck pretty good last game, and it didn’t seem to be going the same way. After that I tried to keep it a little more simple and make sure pucks were in deep."

Bruins captain Zdeno Chara was also pleased with what he saw from his team in Game 2.

"I thought we had everybody going, and we played on our toes," he said. "It’s nice to get some contribution from the back end. You need that in the playoffs."

Join the conversation about Sunday's Game 2 of the Bruins-Rangers series in the live session below.

The full-page version of our live blog for Game 2 can be found here.