Boston’s young defenseman Torey Krug has impressed in their last two games agains the Rangers. ( Michael Tureski/Icon SMI)

By Brian Cazeneuve

After a nailbiter of a Game 1 that ended in overtime, Game 2 between the Bruins and Rangers on Sunday was significantly more one-sided. Boston broke the game open in the second period and coasted to a 5-2 victory, taking a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals in the process.

Here are some thoughts and observations from Game 2:

• Just when the Bruins’ defense is bruised and battered, Boston is getting some fabulous infusion of talent from Torey Krug. The 22-year-old undrafted defenseman made a play that was similar to the one he made in Game 1, only better. Krug scored his first NHL goal in Game 1, pinching in on the play and stepping into a shot to beat Henrik Lundqvist. On Sunday, he picked up his second goal, this time taking a pass in virtually the same spot on the ice, but at his feet. Staying calm, Krug moved the puck between his skates to settle it onto his stick, then fired a shot past the block of Girardi that beat Lundqvist between the pads.

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After struggling against Toronto, Boston’s Brad Marchand finally broke through against New York. (Charles Krupa/AP)

By Sarah Kwak

Less than five minutes remained in the first overtime of Game 1 and the Bruins were outplaying and completely outshooting the Rangers with almost goal after almost goal. It was clear the Bruins were due for an actual goal any second. And for the last two weeks, their Little Ball of Hate has been due, too.

Brad Marchand, the team’s leading scorer in the regular season, was kept muzzled through the first round, picking up only three assists in the seven-game series against the Maple Leafs. But in the closing minutes of overtime against the Rangers, with the score knotted at 2-2, Marchand tipped in a beautiful feed from Patrice Bergeron to win Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals for Boston. The pesky yet diminutive winger did it by powering through the even more diminutive Mats Zuccarello (5-foot-7, 174 pounds), who is probably the only NHLer Marchand (5-9, 183 pounds) could realistically muscle off.

In the fight between these two big, burly and tough hockey teams, the battle between two flyweights decided it. Figures.

Here are some more observations from the Bruins’ 3-2 Game 1 win:

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A revived Milan Lucic will present a big, rugged challenge for Henrik Lundqvist and the Rangers. (Getty Images)

By Sarah Kwak

Snapshot

The Bruins are riding into the second round still high from the thrilling comeback they mounted in Game 7 of their first-round series against the Maple Leafs. The Rangers, meanwhile, silenced one of the league’s hottest offenses as they rode their Vezina Trophy-nominated goalie, Henrik Lundqvist, who posted Game 6 and 7 shutouts against the Capitals. On paper, these two teams do have a lot in common. They’re physical clubs that like to play all 200 feet; they have plenty of scoring talent, however inconsistent it can be, and superb goaltending. This should be a physical series with the potential for a goalie duel unless the offenses find ways to come to life.

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Henrik Lundqvist stood tall in goal again for the Rangers, while Alex Ovechkin couldn’t break through. (Getty Images)

By Sarah Kwak

OK, so after seeing that wondrous Bruins comeback against Toronto, a game for the ages, the deciding contest between the Rangers and Capitals was — comparatively speaking — a bit of a dud. If you chose to watch the Rangers and Caps over that epic clash, well, I really hope you were getting paid to do it (like me).

Anyway, before Game 7, New York coach John Tortorella predicted that the stars of each team would be the deciding factors and would be the ones to step up and carry their teams. Well, it didn’t go exactly that way Monday night. Yes, Tortorella’s biggest star, goalie Henrik Lundqvist, was glittering once again, making 35 saves and shutting out the Capitals for the second night in a row to send his team to the second round. But Lundqvist can only do so much himself without goal support. Well, the 31-year-old Vezina finalist finally got it, but from unexpected sources. Arron Asham, Taylor Pyatt and Michael Del Zotto built a comfortable lead for New York through two periods on the way to an eventual 5-0 win. Aside from Lundqvist, it was the Rangers’ role players that carried this team to the second round.

Some other observations:

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Rick Nash has been quiet, but the Rangers need his offense against the Capitals in Game 7. (Getty Images)

By Allan Muir

Five quick thoughts on the players and situations that could have an impact on tonight’s Rangers vs. Capitals matchup in Washington (8 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network), one of two decisive games on tap tonight:

1. Ovechkin’s struggles: If Alex Ovechkin was looking for a way to make people forget his lousy start to the season, he’s found it: a lousier finish. The spectacular second half, the record-setting April, the Rocket Richard Trophy, the MVP nomination … none of that will mean anything if Ovechkin fails to steer the Capitals clear of another early playoff exit. It’s not a question of effort — he leads the series with 29 shots on goal and offered up a strong 200-foot game in Sunday’s 1-0 loss in New York — but there are no medals for trying hard at this time of year. Ovie gets paid to score goals, and he’s gone five games now without lighting the lamp. Excuses? Sure. He’s been blanketed by Dan Girardi and Ryan McDonagh, and Henrik Lundqvist has been in beast mode. But this is a lousy time to be needing excuses. If he can’t stop the streak from going to six, Ovechkin is likely to carry this dry spell into next season.

MUIR: Five keys to Maple Leafs vs. Bruins 

2. Discipline, discipline, discipline: The Caps have given the Rangers 26 power play opportunities in this series — more than any other team — and while it hasn’t cost them dearly (just two goals), there’s no upside to gambling. And it’s not just the threat of offensive retribution that makes Washington’s lack of control an issue. It’s that it disrupts the flow of the Caps’ own offense, as was obvious on Sunday when they took five minors to none for the Rangers. This has to be a turn-the-other-cheek game for Washington.

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Henrik Ludqvist made 27 saves in the Rangers’ shutout Game 6 win over the Caps. (Paul Bereswill/Getty Images)

By Sarah Kwak

The last minute of Game 6 between the Rangers and Capitals was playoff hockey in a nutshell. Tense, desperate, nerve-wracking, New York clung to its razor-thin, 1-0 lead to force a Game 7 in Washington on Monday night. In those frenetic final seconds, with the Capitals’ net empty and all their fearsome scorers on the ice, the Rangers blocked shots, made hits and did everything they could to help out Henrik Lundqvist. The Rangers’ spectacular goalie stood tall and saved the day for New York yet again, shutting out the Capitals for the first time this postseason.

Some thoughts and observations from Game 6:

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Mike Ribeiro scored the game-winning goal in overtime to give Washington the series lead. (MCT/Getty Images)

By Sarah Kwak

For the fourth-straight game in this series, one goal separated the two teams. The tight contests have made for fast-paced, tense hockey, never more so than on Friday night in Game 5. All tied after regulation, the overtime period offered a continuous string of gasps. The crowd collectively held its breath as Washington and New York traded scoring chances, but when Capitals center Mike Ribeiro scored 9:24 into overtime, the release was monumental. He was standing on the doorstep just to the right of Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist’s cage when a point shot that was blocked in front rebounded right in front of him. Ribeiro easily swept it in, giving Washington the 3-2 series lead and setting off an eruption from the crowd and the Capitals’ bench that nearly blew the roof off of the Verizon Center.

Some thoughts and observations from the Capitals’ 2-1 OT win:

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Alex Ovechkin (right) was largely hemmed in by the efforts of Rangers defenders such as Ryan McDonagh. (AP)

By Brian Cazeneuve

NEW YORK  – After returning to New York down 2-0 in their series against the Washington Capitals, the Rangers regained their footing with a 4-3 win in Game 3. Another victory by the same score followed in Game 4 on Wednesday, and just like that, a series that once looked lopsided is all knotted up at two games apiece.

Here are some more thoughts and observations from the game:

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Is that Bon Jovi? No, it’s Rangers alum and Zamboni racer Ron Duguay. (Angela Cranford/MSG Photo Services)

By Gabriel Baumgaertner

Decorated in racing jumpsuits, armed with a pit crew and seated behind the wheel of two massive ice cleaning machines, Rangers alums Stephane Matteau (also known as Matteau! Matteau! Matteau) and Ron Duguay competed in a Zamboni race on Monday afternoon to celebrate playoff hockey at Madison Square Garden. Rangers icon Adam Graves, who works as a special assistant for the team, stood at the finish line to greet the riders. Even model Alejandra Cata waved the green flag to kick the event off.

Perhaps street Zamboni racing should be the Rangers’ new playoff tradition; they came back in a thriller to beat the Capitals and pull the series to within 2-1.

Rick Nash (61) finally made a significant contribution by assisting Derek Stepan’s winner. (Scotty Levy/Getty Images)

By Brian Cazeneuve

NEW YORK — After being held to one goal while losing the first two games of their opening round series in Washington, the Rangers went home and got an emotional boost from the return of defenseman Marc Staal, who had not played since March 5 because of a brutal eye injury he suffered when he took a slap shot to the face and went down in a writhing heap. Staal, who replaced Steve Eminger in the lineup, was paired with Anton Stralman and tested on his second shift when Capitals forward Troy Brouwer plowed him into the sideboards. Staal emerged unhurt and the Rangers went on to snap a long scoring funk, get their power play back on track and hold off the Capitals for a crucial 4-3 win. The Rangers’ Game 3 victory cut the Capitals’ series lead to 2-1.

Here are some more thoughts and observations from the game:

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