ESPN

The Bruins took a commanding 3-0 lead in their Eastern Conference semifinals series with the Rangers, winning Game 3 at Madison Square Garden, 2-1, Tuesday night. Here are three thoughts on why the Bruins are suddenly on the verge of sweeping the Rangers and advancing to the Eastern Conference finals for the second time in three seasons:

Bruins' fourth line is a third line on most teams. Many fans and NHL media questioned when Bruins head coach Claude Julien decided to sit then-rookie Tyler Seguin for Game 3 of the 2011 Stanley Cup finals in favor of veteran winger Shawn Thornton. But after Thornton went out and played a momentum-changing shift to start that game -- even challenging the Canucks' bench -- and the Bruins went on to win that game convincingly en route to their first Stanley Cup in 39 seasons, there hasn't been much second-guessing.

The trio of Thornton, Gregory Campbell and Daniel Paille has become the best fourth line -- or energy line, as they like to be called -- in the NHL, and right now they're a major reason the Bruins are in position to sweep the Rangers -- who were preseason favorites to win the 2013 Stanley Cup.

After helping to create Johnny Boychuk's game-winning goal in Game 2 with another high energy shift that kept the Rangers pinned in their own zone, this grinding line did it again on Boychuk's game-tying goal in Game 3 and then lit the lamp themselves when Paille scored what proved to be the game-winner 16:29 into the third period. This line continues to reward the faith Julien has put in them and reward their teammates with another chance to win the Cup.

Rask helps turn momentum again. While he didn't face many shots after the first period or even after the Rangers scored their first goal, Tuukka Rask was a main reason the Bruins were trailing by only 1-0 early in the second period. Rask stopped all 11 shots by the Rangers in that opening frame, with many of them coming off odd-man rushes or prime scoring chances in front. The Bruins seemed to be on their heels a bit in the opening frame as they tried to withstand the Rangers' initial surge. But Rask, as he has so many times in the playoffs and the regular season, stemmed the momentum and set up the Bruins for a chance to change the pace of the game. Rask would face only 13 shots in the final two periods, but it was his first- period performance that helped the Bruins find their stride.

Johnny Rocket firing on all cylinders. After scoring just one goal in 44 regular-season games, Boychuk is finding the twine in the playoffs with his rocket shot. After scoring the game-winner in Game 2, Boychuk tied the game at one 3:10 into the third period and now has two goals in as many games and four in the playoffs.

Following Game 2, Boychuk was asked what the difference was in the playoffs and why he's starting to score more. "I'm hitting the net," the rugged defenseman said with a smile. But all kidding aside, Boychuk is picking his spots better when he shoots, and reading the play. There's no doubt that next to Zdeno Chara, he has the hardest shot on the team, but now that shot is smarter and it's paying big dividends for him and the Bruins.

NEW YORK -- The Boston Bruins took a commanding 3-0 series lead with a 2-1 victory over the New York Rangers in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden.

The Bruins erased a 1-0 deficit and scored two unanswered goals en route to the win. Boston’s Daniel Paille scored the game-winning goal at 16:29 of the third period. In fact, the Bruins’ energy line of Paille, Shawn Thornton and Gregory Paille produced both goals for Boston in Game 3.

Bruins defenseman Johnny Boychuk also scored for Boston, while goaltender Tuukka Rask made 23 saves.

Taylor Pyatt scored for the Rangers, and goaltender Henrik Lundqvist made 32 saves.

Both teams knew a strong start would be key, and the Bruins were able to create that early pressure. In fact, it took the Rangers a minute and a half to get the puck in the Bruins’ zone.

It was also evident early that Lundqvist returned to form. The Bruins had two quality chances in the first period, but Lundqvist made two big saves. First, he stoned Boston’s Tyler Seguin on a breakaway at 11:15, and then closed the door on Jaromir Jagr on the next scoring chance. Lundqvist made a total of nine saves in the first period and kept the Rangers in the game.

While Lundqvist remained locked in, the Rangers gained a 1-0 lead in the second period when Pyatt redirected a shot past Rask at 3:53. New York capitalized on a rare miscue by Patrice Bergeron. After he first lost the draw to the right of Rask, he had an opportunity to clear the puck but handed the puck right to New York defenseman Ryan McDonagh, whose wrister from the point was redirected by Pyatt.

After the Rangers’ tally, the Bruins began a strong push but every opportunity they created Lundqvist was there to make the save.

The Bruins’ Gregory Campbell had a slap shot from point-blank range when he teed one up from the left faceoff circle, but Lundqvist snared it with a tremendous glove save at 11:36 of the period.

Two minutes later, the Bruins created sustained pressure with the help of a solid forecheck by Milan Lucic. Linemate Nathan Horton collected the puck and rang a shot off the right post at 13:26.

The second period ended with New York clinging to a one-goal lead thanks Lundqvist, but Boston outshot New York 14-6 in second.

The Bruins kept their push on and were rewarded for their efforts. Boston’s energy line was able to sustain a tight forecheck when rookie defenseman Matt Bartkowski pinched to keep the puck in the Rangers’ zone. Bruins forward Daniel Paille fed the puck back to the point for Boychuk. With Campbell and Shawn Thornton creating traffic in front of Lundqvist, Boychuk’s wrister from the left point found its way through to tie the game at 3:10 of the third. The tally was Boychuk’s fourth of the playoffs.

Boston’s energy line created another relentless forecheck that resulted in Paille’s game-winning goal.

UP NEXT: The Bruins have a chance to end this series with a victory in Game 4 Thursday night at 7 at MSG.

Neither Wade Redden (undisclosed injury) nor Dennis Seidenberg (lower body) was on the ice for the Bruins' pregame skate Tuesday night, and it appears coach Claude Julien will go with the same, young lineup for Game 3 against the Rangers.

Seidenberg suffered a lower-body injury during his first shift of Game 7 against the Toronto Maple Leafs. He attempted another shift but lasted only six seconds on the ice. He remained on the bench for the first and second periods, taking an occasional twirl during TV timeouts, but finally decided to shut it down during the second intermission of that game after the pain would not subside.

While Seidenberg and fellow defensemen Redden and Andrew Ference (lower body) have been sidelined with injuries, rookies Matt Bartkowski, Torey Krug and Dougie Hamilton have played well in the veterans’ absence.

Tuukka Rask led the team out on the ice at Madison Square Garden and will start Game 3, opposite Henrik Lundqvist for the Rangers.

NEW YORK -- Nearly two hours after the Boston Bruins gained a 2-0 lead in this Eastern Conference semifinal series against the New York Rangers Sunday night at TD Garden, Bruins veteran forward Jaromir Jagr was on the ice skating all by himself.

The rink was dimly lit, but the 41-year-old future Hall of Famer was on the ice with no nets. He was wearing a weighted vest and weights on his skates. He was skating hard and stick handling. During one of his breaks, a reporter asked him if this is something he does often.

“My entire career,” he said.

Jagr logged a total of 12:16 of ice time during Game 2 while playing on the team’s second line with Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand.

“You have to let Jaromir take care of Jaromir because he knows his body and he knows himself,” said Bruins coach Claude Julien. “Right now it’s about guys feeling good about themselves and whatever it takes, it takes. I’m going to give days off when I feel it’s needed and this morning is an optional and [Jagr] isn’t out there, so he’s saving it for tonight.

“I have no issues with that. He’s done that his whole career and certainly not going to stop him at this stage. Let him do what he has to do. He’s a guy who demands a lot of himself and he’s been a good asset to us. Our second line started producing when he got there and sometimes it’s about a guy having so much respect from other teams, there’s more room for other guys and they’re making plays. So even if he’s not on the score sheet, or you don’t see him score those goals, he has an impact. He’s been a real good addition.”

Marchand and the rest of the Bruins have been impressed with the veteran’s work ethic.

“He’s one of the best players to ever play the game and he still continues to show why,” Marchand said. “He’s done so well and works so hard on his game, on and off the ice, we see it in the gym, we see it in practice. He’s a treat to watch and us young guys can learn a lot from him.”

Marchand was then asked if he could practice only a few hours after a playoff game.

“I don’t want to do that,” Marchand said with a laugh. “Maybe when I’m a little older I may need to do that but I’ll stay away from that right now.”

NEW YORK -- With Boston Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask getting the morning off from the game-day skate, backup netminder Anton Khudobin still had some help during the optional twirl.

Former NHLer and current Bruins goalie coach Bob Essensa, 48, was in full equipment and practiced with the team as it prepared Tuesday morning for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinal series against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden.

Bruins coach Claude Julien said Essensa had to loosen the strap in order to get his goalie pants on.

“I’m not sure, but Claude shouldn’t be throwing shots there,” Essensa said with a laugh. “We loosened it up a little bit, which was nice.”

The equipment Essensa used was a little of his, a little of Khudobin's and some of Rask’s.

“Felt like it’s been 11 or 12 years,” he said. “But like the old adage goes: If you never had it, you can’t lose it.

“The groins were saying, ‘What are ya doing?’ I only had about five or six butterflies but I went down one time and the hamstring was like, ‘no.’ So I was back on my feet, old-school again.”

Essensa has been Boston’s goalie coach for seven seasons and has strapped on the pads for practice in the past.

“It beats hopping on the bike or the treadmill,” he said. “And it builds up someone’s confidence, theirs or mine.”

Per Julien, his assistant coaches are not allowed to speak to the media, so in this rare occasion, reporters took advantage of the situation and wanted to hear what Essensa had to say about New York’s ability to block shots and how that effects Rask.

“It’s a challenge for goalies and goalie coaches to find new and different techniques in terms of tracking pucks and it’s going to be a challenge from here on in. I’m sure our guys will tell you, and their guys will tell you, it’s not always easy.”

With traffic in front, some goalies like to stay low in order to see the puck, but that’s not the philosophy with the Bruins.

“Every goalie coach tries to get to use the strengths of their individual netminder, and that’s not the strength of our guys. They both move real well, so we want to try to keep them on their feet, keep them moving and attack from that standpoint,” Essensa said.

Essensa played a total of 446 games in the NHL from 1988 to 2002 with Winnipeg, Detroit, Edmonton, Phoenix, Vancouver and Buffalo.

“I wish back in the 80s and 90s we had as many shot blockers back then as we’ve got now,” Essensa said. “That’s just the nature of the beast, everybody wants to get in front of shots. If a shooter’s got to shot through two or three sets of legs, it makes a goalie’s job, should be more easier, but you have to track it as well.”

NEW YORK -- At the start of the series, New York Rangers head coach John Tortorella said he would not answer any questions about the Boston Bruins. He would only answer questions about his team, his players.

With the Rangers facing a 0-2 deficit in the Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Bruins, Tortorella was surprisingly in a good mood Tuesday morning and actually praised the play of the Bruins’ Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand. Tortorella actually said Marchand’s been “the best player in this series.”

When told about the opposing coach’s comment, Marchand disagreed with the assessment of his play in the first two games.

“It’s a compliment but I don’t think I played very well last game. I got a goal but it was another backdoor tap-in from Bergy and I had a few too many turnovers, and got caught out of position on that second goal. I don’t think I had a good game last game at all,” Marchand said.

Do you think Tortorella is messing with you?

“Yeah, possibly,” Marchand said. “I didn’t even know he said it. I try to stay away from the media, I think all of our guys do. We just want to focus on what’s going on in the room and if it is a mind game, I’ll try to stay away from that.

“Everyone feels like we need to step up. We know that we’re not going to have a shot playing with these guys if everyone’s not playing at top of their game. I think everyone is focused on doing that.”

NEW YORK -- Speaking for the first time since he suffered a lower-body injury that has caused him to miss the first two games of an Eastern Conference semifinal series against the New York Rangers, Boston Bruins defenseman Dennis Seidenberg is still uncertain about when he’ll be able to return to the lineup.

“It’s tough to say how it comes along,” said Seidenberg, who has essentially been ruled out for Game 3 Tuesday. “Today, I felt pretty good, better than the last couple of days. It’s definitely a step forward, but it’s tough to say when I can return. We’ll see how it goes in practice tomorrow and then we’ll make a decision then.”

The veteran blueliner suffered the injury during his first shift of Game 7 against the Toronto Maple Leafs. He attempted another shift but lasted only six seconds on the ice. He remained on the bench for the first and second periods, taking an occasional twirl during TV timeouts, but finally decided to shut it down during the second intermission of that game after the pain would not subside.

“You try everything, right?” he said. “You don’t want to give up right away even though it looked like it. You don’t want to realize that it doesn’t work anymore, so you just have to hope, but obviously it didn’t work out.”

This isn’t the first time Seidenberg has been watching from press level during the playoffs due to injury. In 2010, he suffered a late-season arm injury and missed the playoffs.

“It’s really nerve-racking,” he said. “Watching games is tough. Watching games is never fun; you always want to be a part of it and help the team win. It’s something I don’t enjoy, obviously.”

While Seidenberg and fellow defensemen Wade Redden (undisclosed) and Andrew Ference (lower body) have been sidelined with injuries, rookies Matt Bartkowski, Torey Krug and Dougie Hamilton have played well in the veterans’ absence.

“They’ve been real impressive,” Seidenberg said. “They’ve been really poised with the puck. It’s really nice to have that backup, and for those young guys to step in, stay calm and perform the way they did, or have, it’s comforting.”

According to Bruins coach Claude Julien, Redden might participate in the Game 3 pregame warm-up Tuesday night.

ESPNBoston.com's Joe McDonald checks in with an injury update and word from the Bruins' locker room on what the team expects from the Rangers in Game 3 Tuesday night.

BOSTON -- This Eastern Conference semifinal series between the Boston Bruins and the New York Rangers shifts Tuesday to Madison Square Garden for Game 3. The Bruins hold a 2-0 advantage in the best-of-seven series.

In the first two games at TD Garden, Boston beat New York 3-2 (OT) and 5-2, respectively. Now that the Rangers have home ice for the next two games, the Bruins are expecting a better opponent.

“I’m expecting a desperate team,” said Bruins forward Shawn Thornton. “They’re going to step up their game and we’re going to have to be a lot better, too. Going into their building, they’re traditionally a pretty strong team in that rink and it’s not an easy rink to play in, so we’re going to have to be better.”

The Bruins are 21-7 lifetime when leading a best-of-seven series 2-0, and they’re also 18-10 in Game 3s when leading by two games.

During the Bruins’ first-round series against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston was challenged with too many inconsistencies in its game. The Bruins now have a three-game winning streak in tact and they’re building more confidence. When asked what he expects from the Rangers in Game 3 at MSG, Bruins coach Claude Julien said he’s only focused on his team and nothing else.

“It’s what we expect from ourselves,” Julien said. “That’s the thing, we always worry about the other team; we need to worry about ourselves. When we play well, we’re a good team and we give ourselves a chance to win. It’s more about our expectations right now that has to be the important topic for us. We need to, obviously, understand they’re going to be better; we also need to be better. We’re on the road, we don’t get the last change, so it will be a tougher situation.”

The Bruins have won many of the battles along the boards, in the corners and in front of the net, which is one big reason for their success. New York coach John Tortorella was not pleased with his team’s overall performance in the first two games of this series and he expects more in Game 3.

“We didn’t want to lose two games here. No one does. But there’s no give in the team. There will be no give in this team. Again, we need to go win a game. Not look anywhere else, just try to win our first home game this series,” Tortorella said after Game 2.

The Rangers also trailed the Washington Capitals by two games in the quarterfinals before New York responded and eventually won that series in seven games. The Rangers are 2-19 lifetime when trailing 0-2 in a best-of-seven series.

Former Ranger and current Bruins defenseman Wade Redden knows exactly the type of atmosphere Boston will be walking into Tuesday night.

“Probably won’t be a warm reception,” Redden said.

BOSTON -- Injured Boston Bruins defensemen Dennis Seidenberg and Wade Redden participated in the team’s practice Monday morning at TD Garden and both will make the trip to New York in advance of Tuesday’s Game 3 against the Rangers.

Bruins coach Claude Julien said Seidenberg (lower body) and Redden (undisclosed) are getting closer to returning, but the coach won’t know until game day whether one or both will be available for the Game 3 tilt at Madison Square Garden.

“Whether it’s next game or not, we’ll see how he feels tomorrow,” Julien said of Seidenberg.

For Redden, things seemed to look promising.

“Not too bad,” Redden said. “It’s day-to-day still. I’ve got to talk with [the medical staff] and see where we’re at, but it’s progressing good.”

The status of injured defenseman Andrew Ference (foot) doesn’t look nearly as promising. He hasn’t played since May 10 and was seen last week in a walking boot.

Once the medical staff gives the players clearance to return to game action, Julien will then make a decision on his lineup. Given the way young defensemen Matt Bartkowski, Torey Krug and Dougie Hamilton have contributed, Julien will have a tough call.

“The best thing to do is cross that bridge once you get to it,” Julien said. “To prognosticate about it right now is a lot of wasted time where I could be putting it on different areas of our game. When that time comes, whether it’s tomorrow morning or whatever, I’ll be ready to make the decision. That’s what they want me to do as a coach and that’s what I keep doing, whether it’s right or wrong.”

Redden’s been impressed with the young defensemen.

“They’ve been really solid,” said the veteran. “They’ve done a great job. Krug’s scored a couple of big goals for us and Bart’s been solid playing a lot of minutes. They play well and obviously it’s their first kick at it and they’ve got the ability and they’ve stepped right in and done a great job.”

BOSTON -- Bruins veteran winger Shawn Thornton predicted it. He said that he and his linemates -- Daniel Paille and Gregory Campbell -- had been creating plenty of chances lately and it would pay off in this series.

“We’re due. I’m telling you, we’ve been getting lots of chances and we’re gonna get one soon,” Thornton said Saturday after practice.

He repeated his prediction to the media just prior to Game 2 on Sunday, and he turned out to be quite prophetic. Gregory Campbell roofed a backhander past Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist 2:24 into the second period of the Bruins’ 5-2 win that gave them a 2-0 series lead. The Bruins head to New York for Games 3 and 4 Tuesday and Thursday.

Of course, anyone that follows the Bruins knows just how valuable their fourth line is, and that Thornton's prediction wasn't so bold.

“Well, they create them so they know eventually they will go in,” head coach Claude Julien pointed out following the game. “When you look at last game, it’s the same thing. They didn’t necessarily score but they created a lot of chances. They’re not afraid to throw pucks at the net, they always have somebody there, and there’s loose pucks that they bang away. Their goals aren’t necessarily highlight goals, but they’re important goals as you saw tonight. And ‘Soupy’ [Campbell] did a great job there off the rebound and putting that in. So that line continues to give us some important minutes in the game. And you know, as a coaching staff we trust that line a lot, and we put them in different situations that we know they’re going to get the job done.”

For Campbell and his linemates, it was a welcome relief to finally chip in offensively and help their team. The top two lines anchored by centers David Krejci and Patrice Bergeron have been carrying the team the last two games, with Krejci’s line also doing so pretty much for all nine games in the playoffs thus far. Campbell, Thornton and Paille know they can contribute, so they were happy to light the lamp in Game 2.

“It’s a really good feeling,” Campbell said. “Krejci’s line, and Bergeron’s line of late have been relied upon heavily to produce. Those guys are filled with talent and the ability to score goals at big times, but it’s a tough job, especially when you’re playing against a real sound defensive team, and a real good goaltender, to really rely on those guys every night. Our line put some pressure on ourselves to help out in that aspect. As we get further into the playoffs, teams get better defensively, and games get closer, sometimes it’s not the usual suspects that chip in, and it has to be the other guys.”

Campbell and his linemates also appreciate the faith Julien and his staff have in them. Julien hasn’t hesitated to put them in pressure situations in past playoff seasons, and that faith hasn’t wavered.

“It’s important for the coaching staff to have confidence in us, and it goes a long way,” Campbell said. “Obviously, he reads the game, and it’s up to him whether or not he wants to put us out there against different lines, and certain matchups, and whatnot. That’s really a game within a game, the matchups the coaches are looking for. For us, it’s really important to be ready when we’re called upon, and for some guys it’s not the easiest job to sit there, and then go out, and really have to be sound defensively, and responsible. But that’s the hand that we’re dealt, and the job that we have to play. It’s nice for him to show that confidence in us, and I guess it gives us a little boost to be able to play against top guys.”

BOSTON -- “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.”

That might be what the Rangers' defense and their goalie, Henrik Lundqvist, are saying about Bruins forwards Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand after the two connected on essentially the same play they beat the Rangers with during overtime in Game 1. The goal gave the Bruins a 4-2 cushion 26 ticks into the third period of their 5-2 win in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Bergeron and Marchand used their speed and chemistry, as Bergeron once again found the seam in the Rangers' defense in front and Marchand buried it past Lundqvist.

Following the game, Marchand was asked how many times he and Bergeron plan on trying to score with the same play.

“I don’t know. Until it stops working. Hopefully a couple of more times,” the pesky winger said with a smile. “It was very similar. I was kind of hanging back there backdoor and ‘Bergy’ made an unbelievable pass again.”

That was Marchand’s second goal in as many games, as he finished with a goal and an assist and now has two goals and five assists in nine playoff games. Bergeron had two helpers in Game 2 and now has five points in his last three games and seven points in nine games. One of the reasons both are starting to contribute more consistently is their speed and the chemistry they share.

“That’s a huge part of our game is trying to use our speed to our advantage,” Marchand said. “I know that if I’m able to bust through to seams, ‘Bergy’ is going to hit me, and then we’ll get opportunities and he knows the same. I think our whole team is definitely using that to their advantage right now. All that with chipping pucks in deep, we’re a tough team to play against.”

But while Marchand is finding his groove again and that chemistry with his linemate, he knows he can still be better. Midway through the opening frame, Marchand made an errant pass that Rangers captain Ryan Callahan scooped up and turned into a goal -- by beating defenseman Dougie Hamilton and shooting it by Rask to tie the game at one. Marchand admitted that he was getting too comfortable with the puck there.

“I think I was definitely a little more aware of it,” Marchand acknowledged. “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. It’s tough when you turn the puck over, but it was early in the game. You just got to try to bounce back.”

Head coach Claude Julien never wants to see turnovers, especially those that the opponent converts into goals, but he said he has been impressed with Marchand’s recent play.

“He seems to be skating better in regards to that,” Julien said of Marchand utilizing his speed and finding his game. “He might’ve seemed a little slow at times. I think sometimes when you’re over-thinking, you put too much pressure on yourself, it just weighs on you. Right now, it’s just a matter of going out there, almost the same thing as the young guys, ‘go out there and play.’ He’s a quick player, he’s a shifty player, and he’s very capable of doing that. He knows defensively tonight there was a couple things, not so much the puck that didn’t make it across on the first goal, but probably how he reacted to coming back. There’s certain things we talk about, but you’ve got to encourage those guys to keep doing the things that they’ve been good at doing. To me, he’s played two solid games for us.”

BOSTON -- The Bruins are headed to the Big Apple with a 2-0 series lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals after a decisive 5-2 win in Game 2.

Torey Krug and Brad Marchand each had a goal and an assist, and Johnny Boychuk, Gregory Campbell and Milan Lucic also lit the lamp for Boston. Only Ryan Callahan and Rick Nash could beat Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask, who made 35 saves. Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist had a game to forget, allowing five goals on 32 shots.

Boychuk the playoff warrior -- In addition to a rocket of a slapshot that found the net for the third time in the playoffs Sunday, Boychuk also has some kind of pain threshold. Remember, the Bruins rearguard was injured early in Game 1; after laying motionless for 10 seconds and then showing signs of alertness and skating to the bench, Boychuk missed only one shift and returned to play 26:55. Apparently it will take more than a dangerous head shot for Boychuk to miss quality time.

Marchand and Bergy connect again -- It’s rare that a team can score on the same play against the same team two games in a row. But that is just what the Bruins did when Bergeron found Marchand with the same feed in front that he did when he set Marchand up for the overtime winner in Game 1. Bergeron’s vision was on full display, as he also assisted on Boychuk’s game-winner. But the Rangers have to be wondering how they got beat again on the same play.

Rask even-keeled -- Rask hasn’t been tested a lot in this series thus far but when he has, he has done his job. In Game 2, he had some long stretches of no action and then some stretches of furious action. Yes, he gave up two goals, but neither could be blamed on him and overall he has been solid when needed. But besides Rask making saves, he is having even more of a presence helping the young defensemen with improved puck-handling starting plays out of the zone.

Thornton called it -- Speaking to the media prior to Game 2, Thornton seemed to have an inclination that he and his linemates Daniel Paille and Gregory Campbell would finally breakthrough after numerous chances in the past few games. Thornton’s hunch was correct as Campbell got his first goal of the playoffs 2:24 into the middle frame. The energy line, as they’re known, was a constant factor with their physical presence, forecheck and scoring chances.

Krug continues to be a factor -- Krug continues to look very comfortable in the Stanley Cup Playoffs atmosphere. The footwork and stickwork Krug showed on his first-period goal was impressive. This kid is living in the moment, and if he cleans up his turnovers he will all but have a spot cemented in Boston when he shows up for training camp next September.

Defense giveth, taketh away and taketh back -- The Bruins' defense played a role in almost every goal in Game 2. It accounted for six points with Krug’s two points, Boychuk’s goal, and Hamilton, Bartkowski and McQuaid all getting helpers. But they also were in a giving mood, as the team finished with 16 turnovers -- many from the defense -- and some of them costly and leading to goals. Obviously the team welcomes the offense from the back end, but at times it appeared as if they got a little too excited or overconfident with the puck and made some blind passes in front or out to the point. Hamilton, Krug and Boychuk all need to make smarter passes coming out of the Bruins' zone.

BOSTON -- In probably the briefest press conference of his coaching career, Boston Bruins head coach Claude Julien said that injured defensemen Wade Redden (undisclosed) and Dennis Seidenberg (knee) would not play in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals Sunday against the New York Rangers.

"Both of them skated this morning," Julien said Sunday. "Redds [Redden] and Seidenberg, But both won't be available today."

Expect the Bruins to use the same lineup as they did in Game 1, with the rookie blue line trio of Dougie Hamilton (assist), Torey Krug (goal) and Matt Bartkowski.

Here are the expected lines for the Bruins:

Forwards
Milan Lucic-David Krejci-Nathan Horton
Brad Marchand-Patrice Bergeron-Jaromir Jagr
Rich Peverley-Chris Kelly-Tyler Seguin
Daniel Paille-Gregory Campbell-Shawn Thornton

Defense
Zdeno Chara-Dougie Hamilton
Matt Bartkowski-Johnny Boychuk
Torey Krug-Adam McQuaid
Goalies
Tuukka Rask
Anton Khudobin

BOSTON -- Bruins defenseman Dennis Seidenberg (lower body) skated with team strength and conditioning coach Johnny Whitesides prior to practice Saturday and fellow injured defenseman Wade Redden (lower body) skated with the rest of his teammates. Andrew Ference (foot) remained off the ice.

Following practice, Redden said he wouldn’t be ready to play Saturday night if there were a game. Game 2 of the series against the Rangers is Sunday afternoon at 3.

“I’m coming,” Redden said. “Good to be out there. I wasn’t doing everything out there but still day-to-day and getting better. I’m just keeping patient and hopefully things keep progressing.”

Seidenberg and Ference were not available for comment, but after practice coach Claude Julien expressed cautious optimism about Seidenberg's availability for Game 2. Julien ruled out Ference.

“I don’t anticipate Seidenberg being ready for tomorrow, but with the injury he’s got you never know,” Julien said. “As far as Ference is concerned, he wasn’t skating so he won’t be able to go.”

Ference has missed the last three games while Redden has missed the last two. Seidenberg injured himself early in Game 7 against Toronto last Monday; Saturday was the first time he skated since then.