ESPN

After completing a two-day, team-building retreat in Stowe, Vt., the Boston Bruins returned to the practice ice Tuesday in Waterbury, Vt.

Both David Krejci (back spasms) and Carl Soderberg (ankle) missed practice. Bruins coach Claude Julien told reporters Soderberg is doubtful for the season opener against the Tampa Bay Lightning Thursday at TD Garden. Krejci is expected to practice on Wednesday.

“We’re hoping to see David on the ice [Wednesday],” Julien told reporters. “We’re optimistic about that. Soderberg, again, he’s just being evaluated. There’s some swelling, so we don’t know exactly until that swelling goes down a little bit more. He’s a little bit longer and I would say doubtful for Thursday, highly doubtful. David, we’re optimistic things are going to go well for him.”

Krejci missed the preseason finale last Friday against the Winnipeg Jets, while Soderberg’s skate caught a rut in the ice during the game, resulting in his injury.

Julien also announced Krejci has been named the team’s second assistant captain and will share the "A" with teammate Chris Kelly.

BOSTON -- After missing Saturday’s preseason finale due to back spasms, Bruins forward David Krejci did not participate in Sunday’s practice at TD Garden.

Teammate Carl Soderberg also missed practice with an undisclosed injury.

“Right now I would say day-to-day,” Julien said after practice regarding Krejci's status. “Maybe as we move forward it might be better. To be honest with you, Krecj, I think it might be better. With Carl, I’m not sure yet, because the injury was suffered when he hit a rut the other night. It’s still up in the air as far as the seriousness of it. So we had first deemed it minor now it’s questionable.”

Prior to Sunday’s practice, the team announced it had waived forward Nick Johnson in hopes he would clear and could be assigned to Providence of the AHL. Johnson played well during training camp and the exhibition season, but there simply wasn’t enough room on the roster.

“It’s not an easy conversation, no doubt,” Julien said. “It’s one of those things that those kind of players understand. The little bit of time I’ve got to know him, he’s a real quality person, and in his mind he says, ‘I’m going to keep working hard because I have a feeling I’m going to be back here this year.’ So there’s confidence in his voice and determination and that’s what you want to hear. So I know he’s disappointed and you would hope he’s disappointed, but at the same time he seemed to have the right attitude to work his way back here.”

BOSTON -- Bruins coach Claude Julien was pleased that all players passed their physicals, including forwards Patrice Bergeron and Gregory Campbell. Both suffered severe injuries during the final two rounds of the Stanley Cup playoffs and three months later, they’re prepared for training camp. Julien said both players are cleared for practice, but if games were to start Thursday, they wouldn’t be ready.

"When it comes time to play those exhibition games, it'll be a conversation again with our trainers in making sure if they're going to play that there's not a risk factor," Julien said. “Right now, I would tell you that they would not be cleared to play a game if we started today, but that might change in the upcoming days or in a week from now.”

Bergeron suffered torn rib cartilage, a broken rib on his left side, a separated right shoulder and a punctured lung that ended up collapsing and forced him to spend three days in the hospital after the Bruins lost to the Chicago Blackhawks in the Stanley Cup finals last June.

Campbell broke his right fibula in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals against Pittsburgh when he blocked a slap shot by the Penguins’ Evgeni Malkin.

The Bruins have their first of seven exhibition games Monday at Montreal against the Canadiens.

• When the Bruins hit the ice for their first official practice Thursday morning at TD Garden, Julien will get his first look at what could be the team’s lineup when the season begins on Oct. 3. The Bruins’ top line of center David Krejci and left winger Milan Lucic will welcome new linemate Jarome Iginla. Second-line center Bergeron and left winger Brad Marchand will be working with new right wing Loui Eriksson.
  
  Julien admitted Wednesday he was pleased with the way forwards Daniel Paille and Chris Kelly meshed during the Stanley Cup finals, so it could be possible to see those two, along with a host of right-wing candidates, during training camp.
  
  “In the real perfect world, you’ve got your top two lines, and you’d like to see them score on a regular basis. Your third line should be able to give you some secondary scoring and then your third line should also be able to give you some secondary grit that the fourth line gives you,” Julien explained. “So they're kind of, to me, caught in the middle where they give you a little bit of both, and that is what we are looking for from that line. We need more than just two lines to score. We know our fourth line has given us that, but our third line needs to give us that as well, and, at the same time, defensively and on the gritty side of the game they got to be able to give us that, too.”
  
  That leaves the team’s energy line of Campbell and Shawn Thornton. If Paille makes the jump to the team’s third line, it will leave a spot open on the fourth line.
• Youth and depth will be a key factor for the Bruins during camp and into the season. GM Peter Chiarelli has made it known that in order for this team to win, it will need contributions from an influx of younger players. There are roster spots to be won on both the offensive and defensive ends of the ice. Julien reiterated that point on Wednesday, and his advice to the prospects was simple.
  
  “Take advantage of it,” he told them. “We’ve been clear, and it hasn’t just come from me. Peter is the one who has kind of came out and said, 'Listen, we’re going to bring some youth into our lineup, so if some guys want a spot on this hockey club, here is a good opportunity to do that right now.' And it’s open. I think we’ve got some guys on [Boston's AHL development team] Providence last year that deserve that look. We’ve got some guys who we got in some trades that are going to certainly be battling for those spots as well.”
  
  Forwards Anthony Camara, Craig Cunningham, Jordan Caron, Matt Fraser and Reilly Smith are all in the mix.
• With a few tweaks to their roster, the Bruins and coach Julien will focus on the team’s systems play during training camp. Julien believes the team can be a little “tighter” in that area.
  
  “Those are things we’re going to be working on and making sure that’s at the top of our list,” Julien said. “I thought that was one of the things that we could do better, and when we did it well, it gave us success but we didn’t do it on a consistent basis, so that’s one of the things we’re going to be tweaking. It’s a bunch of little things. It’s minor maybe to you guys, but to me, it’ll make some big difference in games, some of the things that we’re going to be working on.”
  
  Julien likes consistency and chemistry, so if he likes what he sees early in camp, then expect to see those lines and special-team units remain the same.
• Earlier this week, Julien said he believed his team was ready to make amends for the way last season ended with a Game 6 loss to the Blackhawks. When asked how long it would take in order to get a feel for his team’s motivation, Julien said he already knows.
  
  “I feel it right now,” he said. “I think our group is in the right place. I like the feeling of our hockey cub right now. These tests today just kind of solidified what I thought. Guys are in great shape, and it would have been easier for guys after finishing so late to just kind of shut it down for the summer, but they’ve kept themselves in great shape and they look excited to get off to a new start here.”
• With the disappointing ending to the 2012-13 season in the books, Julien and his players are looking forward to a fresh start. There are some new faces in the mix, and with the Stanley Cup-winning core from 2011 intact, this should be another successful season in Boston.
  
  “I think it's important every once and a while to get some fresh faces in and continue to create that excitement of being competitive and wanting to win every year,” Julien said. “Things can get stale after a while. That's a known fact. And I think what we've done right now is kept our core together; we got some great leaders, a great core group of guys, and we've added some quality people in there, too. But also we've left room for some guys to come in and win themselves a spot.”
  
  Now, it’s ice time as the first practice will be held Thursday at the Garden.

CHICAGO -- Opponents have been unsuccessful in trying to contain the explosive offensive surge by the Boston Bruins' top line of Milan Lucic, David Krejci and Nathan Horton during the Stanley Cup playoffs.

That is, until now.

The Chicago Blackhawks have limited that line to only nine points in the first four games of the Stanley Cup finals. Boston's top trio entered this series with a total of 51 points in the previous 16 games this postseason.

Only Lucic has scored in this series, with two goals in Game 1 and one in Game 4, while Krejci (three assists) and Horton (two assists) have yet to light the lamp against Chicago goaltender Corey Crawford.

With the best-of-seven series tied at 2-2 and Game 5 on Saturday at the United Center, Krejci understands his line needs to produce a little more.

"There's nothing to it," Krejci said. "Just play the game. It's not like we've sucked or something the last game. I feel like we just played so-so, and so-so is not good enough. We have to skate hard. We have to hit. We have to pay attention to little details. As far as our line goes, we have to take care of our defensive zone first and go from there."

While the Bruins have been receiving offense from the other lines, including the newly revamped third line of Daniel Paille, Chris Kelly and Tyler Seguin, Bruins coach Claude Julien is not concerned about the top unit.

"They've been pretty good throughout the whole playoffs," Julien said. "I certainly wouldn't be the guy to complain about their performance so far. They've been pretty good. But at one point you get to the finals and everybody wants to give a little bit more. I think they're no different. They're a line that's very proud of what they've accomplished in these playoffs so far and would like to finish on a good note. If we can get a little more from those guys, it would be a bonus."

Boston's second line of Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and Seguin was the team's most consistent unit during the regular season, while Krejci's line dealt with too many inconsistencies. But once the puck dropped on the Stanley Cup playoffs, the Lucic-Krejci-Horton trio has been solid. Overall it has 60 points in 20 games.

"We have to be big. We have to be playing great," Krejci said. "We have to be playing the way we know how to play, but we also need the other lines to play our hockey. Obviously, the last game we gave up six goals, which is a lot for our team, and that's not how we want to play up-and-down hockey. We've got to play good Boston Bruins hockey and all four lines have to chip in and we've got to keep going."

The Blackhawks have been able to contain Boston's top line in this series.

"They've been playing us tight from Game 1," Lucic said. "They've been keeping a good gap, and as you can tell, they definitely try to take away your space in all areas, in all three zones. We definitely need to be better as a line and we've got to find a way to break through in whatever kind of adjustments that they've made.

"You definitely want to step your game up in order to help your team win," added Lucic. "You want to do whatever you can to contribute. As the series goes along, and every game gets bigger and bigger, and right now it being 2-2, it's come down to the best of three and there's a maximum of three games left in this year's hockey season; when you look at it like that, the focus has to be to put everything on the line because there's nothing left after a potential three games. You want to leave it all out there and hope you can bring your best in order to help your team win."

Ever since Horton aggravated a shoulder injury in Game 1 of this series, he's been limited to two assists after producing seven goals and 10 assists in the first 16 games of the playoffs. Still, he's a plus-23 and his teammates don't believe his injury is affecting his play too much.

"I think Horty's been playing OK," Krejci said. "We haven't been putting the puck in the net but he made a terrific play on the tying goal [in Game 4] when Johnny [Boychuk] shot it, so he's still doing his thing. I don't think we should talk about him; we should talk about us as a line. Each of us has to help each other a little more, and maybe the last couple of games we didn't look like the line that we would like to play in the finals. We know we can do it. We know we can do it against Chicago. We're ready to bounce back."

The Chicago Blackhawks beat the defending Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings in five games with a 4-3 double-overtime win to clinch the Western Conference and advance to the 2013 Stanley Cup finals, in which they will face the Boston Bruins.

The Bruins will once again likely be underdogs against the Blackhawks in the finals. While the Bruins proved the naysayers wrong against a similarly high-powered offense in the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Blackhawks bring a more balanced game to the table. The Hawks are loaded with offensive skill, but they also have a great blue line. They carry many of the same traits as the Bruins, and that's why this promises to be one of the best series in recent memory as well as the first Original Six finals since 1979.

Here are three things the Bruins and their fans should expect from the team that had the best start in NHL history this season by earning a point in 24 straight games:

1. The Hawks can light you up and shut you down: The Blackhawks finished tops in goals against in the regular season and second in goals for. They've got skilled forwards like Patrick Kane, Patrick Sharp, Marian Hossa, Jonathan Toews and emerging power forward Bryan Bickell, who is tied with Sharp for second in playoff goals with eight, trailing only Bruins center David Krejci, who has nine. But much like the Bruins, these forwards start their offense with defense. Similarly to Bruins center and reigning Selke Award winner Patrice Bergeron, Hossa leads the way as the best two-way player on the roster. But the slight difference between the Bruins and the Blackhawks is that while the Bruins defense has become one of the better puck-moving groups in the playoffs, the Hawks defense has been doing that all season and is the best when it comes to transition. Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith lead the transition game, but Johnny Oduya and Niklas Hjalmarsson are right behind them in turning defense into offense while at the same time limiting chances in their own end. That's why Corey Crawford's 1.74 goals-against average is actually slightly better than Tuukka Rask's 1.75.

2. The Hawks bring finesse, grit and frustrating tactics: As witnessed in the first period of Saturday's Game 5, when they struck for two goals in 2:17, the Hawks can strike fast and furiously and possess plenty of skill and finesse. But they can also be physical. In addition to Bickell's prowess, they also have other bangers like Brandon Saad and Dave Bolland and bring a hard-hitting game every night. The Hawks have their own version of Brad Marchand in the pesky Andrew Shaw, who will be doing his best to agitate the Bruins' best players. It will be very interesting to see how Milan Lucic handles Shaw. The sometimes hot-tempered Lucic was successful in the way he dealt with Matt Cooke in the Eastern Conference finals by maintaining his physical presence but not crossing the line, and that will be key with Shaw.

3. Expect a chess match: The Blackhawks are well coached by Jack Adams Award candidate Joel Quenneville, who has a system in place that his players buy into and execute on the ice. Similarly to Bruins coach Claude Julien, Quenneville seems to have a pulse on his team and can adapt game to game, period to period and shift to shift, as evidenced by the way he handled his players' ice time in the overtime sessions in Game 5. Like Julien, Quenneville doesn't allow star power to take over in the dressing room and holds everyone equally accountable. Both of these teams play hard and play together. This series should be a classic.

The Penguins had no answer for the Bruins in Game 2 as Boston again dominated the best offense in the NHL, beating Pittsburgh 6-1 to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference finals with the series headed to TD Garden for Games 3 and 4.

Bruins set tone early and often -- The Bruins clearly frustrated the Penguins in their 3-0 Game 1 victory and they wasted no time doing so again in Game 2 as Brad Marchand scored 28 seconds into regulation. But the Bruins weren't done deflating the Penguins and their fans. The Bruins opened up a 3-0 lead and when the Penguins cut it to 3-1, Marchand struck again 25 seconds later to give the Bruins a 4-1 lead after one period of play. To rub salt in the wound, Marchand let Matt Cooke have it verbally after jousting with Cooke just prior to the goal. That was just one example of how the Bruins are controlling the action both physically and mentally and how the Penguins remain a very frustrated team that can't seem to get their game going.

Horton, Krejci having their own Conn Smythe race -- Kings goalie Jonathan Quick entered the conference finals as the lead candidate for the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP with David Krejci right behind him. But with Quick getting pulled in a 4-2 loss to the Blackhawks in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals and Krejci scoring his eighth goal and 20th point of the playoffs in Game 2, the Bruins center may be right there with Quick. But linemate Nathan Horton is suddenly in the mix too. Horton had a goal and an assist in Game 2 and now has five points in this series and 17 in the playoffs. He also is a plus-19 and is looking more and more like the Horton who had two series-clinching goals in the Bruins' 2011 Stanley Cup run.

Bruins again use brawn with brains -- The Penguins once again outhit the Bruins (37-19) but as was the case in Game 1, many of their hits served no meaning and were either a result of frustration or because they didn't have the puck. The Bruins' puck possession was dominant and when they made hits, they usually in a turnover or the end of the Penguins possession. The Penguins are trying to outmuscle the Bruins and it's not working. Meanwhile, the Bruins are picking their spots and making use of every hit.

Rask up to the task again -- The Penguins really didn't have any sustained pressure in the Bruins' zone, but many times when that's the case it can be more difficult for a goalie to maintain focus and be ready. But Rask showed no issues in that regard and was ready any time the Penguins pressured. He finished with 26 saves and has stopped 55 of 56 Penguins shots thus far. In addition, Rask has maintained his cool as the Penguins continually rush the net and try to get under his skin.

Points starting to come -- Jaromir Jagr's hard work is starting to pay off on the score sheet as the veteran forward had two assists in Game 2 with his second a beautiful set-up on Patrice Bergeron's goal. Jagr has played well for the last seven games, but has been unable to really contribute offensively. Perhaps this performance can spark some goals against his former team.

The Bruins beat the Penguins 3-0 on Saturday to take a 1-0 series lead in the Eastern Conference finals. Here are five takeaways from a very solid win by Boston to open the series:

Bruins play their game: Give Sidney Crosby credit. There are not many heavyweight enforcers in the NHL who will go face-to-face with Bruins captain Zdeno Chara, give him an earful and even shove the 6-foot-9, 255-pound giant. But that's just what Crosby did after he nudged Tuukka Rask and talked some trash to the Bruins goalie at the end of the second period. But while Crosby's courage is admirable, the genesis of that courage and his teammates' sudden physical approach was not. This series was billed as the skill of the Penguins against the physical game of the Bruins. Just as the Bruins would have been reminded that they're not a finesse team had they tried to play like one, the Penguins were reminded that while they can be physical, they cannot be the Bruins. As a result, the Penguins let frustration get the best of them, with the Bruins gladly obliging. Frankly, the Bruins won the mental and emotional battles and essentially cooked dinner in the Penguins' collective kitchen. Playing with emotion and grit is one thing, and while the Penguins outhit the Bruins 34-19, the majority of those hits derived from frustration. Meanwhile, the majority of the Bruins' hits served a purpose and were a byproduct of their typical style of play, which they executed to perfection.

Rask looking to do more than erase 2010 demons: After manning the pipes for the Bruins' epic collapse to the Flyers, in which they blew a 3-0 series lead in the 2010 Eastern Conference semifinals, some critics questioned whether Rask could handle playoff pressure and get the Bruins past the second round. Rask not only has done that, he is proving to be more than worthy of being an elite starter in the postseason. Rask earned his first playoff shutout with a 29-save performance against the team with the best offense in the NHL and in its home barn. Rask clearly was a major factor in the Penguins' frustration that boiled over late in the second period and into the third and let it be known that he will not be intimidated by the Penguins' skill or, in the case of this game, some late hits on him. Rask has erased the demons of 2010, but he obviously has bigger goals than that.

Bruins need to consider re-signing Horton: I've been critical of Nathan Horton's inconsistent play plenty of times and, like many, have wondered if he lost his physical edge after suffering two concussions within a calendar year. But Horton now is playing like the Horton we saw before the devastating hit from Aaron Rome in Game 3 of the 2011 Stanley Cup finals against the Canucks. He is physically engaged and playing with passion, and as a result putting up not only points, but clutch points. He had a goal and two assists in Game 1, and his physical presence was felt throughout the game. There have been plenty of whispers that the soon-to-be unrestricted free agent won't be re-signed by the Bruins, but with the way he's playing when it counts most, the Bruins have to be considering bringing him back.

Krejci right there with Quick for Conn Smythe: Heading into the conference finals, there was plenty of talk that Kings goalie Jonathan Quick is the hands-down front-runner for the Conn Smythe trophy, and there is no argument here Quick is the guy at this point. But Bruins center David Krejci isn't as far behind as many might think, and he proved that again in Game 1 with two goals. Krejci leads the NHL in playoff scoring with seven goals and 12 assists and continues to be one of the best playoff performers in the NHL. He gets timely goals and is a main reason the Bruins are within three wins of the Stanley Cup finals.

At what point does NHL stop Cooke?: It really is hard to believe that the Penguins media nominated Matt Cooke for the Masterton Trophy and that so many claim that the Penguins forward has reformed his game. Have the cheap shots from Cooke decreased over the past two seasons? Yes. But they have not gone away, and it is clear Cooke simply has no respect for his fellow players or even his teammates. His hit from behind on Adam McQuaid showed not only a lack of respect for another player's safety, but also put his teammates in a pinch, having to kill off the subsequent power play. He obviously doesn't get it, and the question must be asked: When will the NHL ban Cooke from the league for an extended period, or maybe even permanently?

PITTSBURGH -- Forward David Krejci scored a pair of goals to lead the Boston Bruins to a 3-0 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals Saturday night at CONSOL Energy Center.

Krejci is the top scorer in the Stanley Cup playoffs and now has seven goals and 12 assists in 13 postseason games. Teammate Nathan Horton also scored for Boston. Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask earned his first career playoff shutout with a 29-save performance against the top offensive team in the NHL.

The Penguins came out fast and furious and sustained pressure on the opening shift. Pittsburgh had plenty of chances, but Rask made the timely saves. The Bruins took the early lead when Krejci’s one-timer from the high slot beat Tomas Vokoun to the five-hole at 8:23 of the first period.

With the Bruins holding a 1-0 lead, the Penguins nearly scored in the closing seconds of the opening period when Evgeni Malkin’s bid slid across the goal line but did not sneak in. Rask finished the period with 12 saves.

After a scoreless second period, the Bruins scored twice in the third period. After Krejci’s second of the game at 4:04, Horton netted his sixth of the playoffs at 7:51 to give Boston a 3-0 lead. With a three-goal cushion, Rask did the rest and the Bruins took the early series lead.

FERENCE RETURNS: In his first game action since he suffered a lower-body injury in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Bruins defenseman Andrew Ference showed no ill effects from his hiatus, registering an assist on Krejci’s goal. With the assist, Boston’s defensemen have contributed 31 of the team’s 110 points in the Stanley Cup playoffs so far.

COOKE INJURES McQUAID: The Penguins’ Matt Cooke received a five-minute penalty and a game misconduct for his check from behind on the Bruins’ Adam McQuaid at 1:32 of the second period. McQuaid went behind Boston’s net to play the puck and was facing the glass when Cooke hit him from behind. McQuaid was clearly shaken up on the play and remained on the ice for a moment and was tended to by the team trainer. McQuaid went to the locker room and missed approximately nine minutes before he returned to the ice.

DROP ‘EM: After it appeared both teams were skating off the rust in the first period after a week off between games, the physical aspect picked up in the second period. In fact, when the buzzer sounded to end the period, Patrice Bergeron and Malkin, neither known for their fisticuffs, dropped the gloves. After Bergeron hit the ice, Malkin kept throwing punches. During the scrum, Zdeno Chara and Sidney Crosby were chirping at each other. When the ice was finally cleared, Ference and Crosby, along with the refs, had a discussion near the Pittsburgh bench.

SPECIAL TEAMS: In typical Bruins fashion, their penalty kill was strong and the power play struggled. Overall, Boston went 0-for-4 on the man advantage and are now 7-for-36 in the playoffs. After Cooke’s hit on McQuaid, the Bruins only had a three-minute power play since Chris Kelly was called for roughing. Even with a man advantage for that amount of time, the Bruins couldn’t capitalize. With Horton in the box for slashing at 11:04 of the second period, Bergeron had a golden shorthanded opportunity on a breakaway but he couldn’t control his deke and lost the puck. The Penguins went 0-for-5 on the power play.

UP NEXT: Game 2 will be played Monday night at 8 at CONSOL Energy Center.

The Boston Bruins narrowly escaped a first-round upset loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Bruins almost blew a 3-1 series lead, but they were able to rally back from a 4-1 third-period deficit and cap a historic comeback by beating Toronto in overtime to advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals.

But if the Bruins decide to rest on their laurels the way they have so many times this season, then this could be a quick series. The New York Rangers are a much more formidable, stronger team than the Maple Leafs. These Rangers finally seem to be fulfilling their potential. Here's the scouting report:

Records

Bruins: 4-3 in playoffs. 28-14-6, 62 points, fourth in Eastern Conference, second in Northeast Division in regular season.

Rangers: 4-3 in playoffs. 26-18-4, 56 points, sixth in Eastern Conference, second in Atlantic Division in regular season.

Head-to-head: The Rangers won the season series 2-1-0. After the Bruins took the season opener against the Rangers at TD Garden with a 3-1 victory, the Rangers took the teams' next two matchups at Madison Square Garden, winning 4-3 in overtime and 4-3 in a shootout.

Forwards

Bruins: The Bruins have scored 17 goals in the playoffs thus far. David Krejci leads the way with five lamplighters and eight assists in seven games. Krejci and linemates Milan Lucic (two goals, seven assists) and Nathan Horton (four goals, three assists) have been sparking the Bruins' offense. Other than Patrice Bergeron, who came alive with two goals and an assist in the epic Game 7 win over the Maple Leafs, the Bruins have not had the scoring balance they will need against the stingy Rangers and goalie Henrik Lundqvist. If the depth up front doesn't come through in this series, the Bruins will have a hard time winning. All a very solid Rangers defense will need to do is shut down the Lucic-Krejci-Horton line and the Bruins will be in trouble. That is why the rest of the forwards, specifically Tyler Seguin and Brad Marchand, must step up.

Rangers: The Rangers are similar to the Bruins in that they play a heavy game. Boston GM Peter Chiarelli noted that the Rangers are missing a scoring dynamic with the loss of Marian Gaborik. But the Rangers' sum of parts adds up to a gritty team, like the Bruins. Still, while it's great that Derek Brassard, who came over from Columbus in the Gaborik trade, has nine points in the playoffs, the Rangers will also need their scorers to step up. That hasn't happened yet as Rick Nash has no goals and just two assists and Brad Richards has one goal.

Edge: Even. Right now, both teams need more balance up front. The Bruins and Rangers need more of their usual goal scorers to find the net and could also use more contributions from depth players.

Defense

Bruins: When healthy and playing to their potential, they Bruins' defensemen can be one of the most well-rounded blue-line groups in the NHL. They were not playing to their potential when healthy against the Maple Leafs, and now they are not healthy. Boston will likely start this series without Wade Redden, Andrew Ference and possibly Dennis Seidenberg, who has become a premier minutes-eater and shutdown defenseman. It appears the Bruins will need to depend on their youth in Matt Bartkowski, Dougie Hamilton and Torey Krug. If all three play, that would mean that half of the Bruins' six defensemen to start this series would be rookies. But besides their youth, all three rookies will not bring the physical prowess that Seidenberg and Ference can bring and maybe not the calmness that Redden brings. Their inexperience could make it very difficult to match up against the big and gritty Rangers forwards. The B's three young defensemen can bring offense and help the power play, but can they take the physical toll the Rangers will put on them? Will captain Zdeno Chara wear down from logging all the extra minutes in the absence of Seidenberg and Ference?

Rangers: While the Bruins might gain some offensive punch from their rookie trio of Bartkowski, Krug and Hamilton, don't expect too much offense from the Rangers' blue line. The Rangers don't have many offensive-minded defensemen. But they get the job done in their own end by utilizing shot-blocking, size and toughness. Players like Ryan McDonagh and Michael Del Zotto can bring the noise when it comes to hitting and making opposing forwards pay. In what should be a stingy series, that will make it difficult for Bruins forwards to create space and scoring chances.

Edge: Rangers, because of their size, shot-blocking and overall grit.

Goalies

Bruins: Tuukka Rask is 4-3 with a 2.49 goals-against average and .923 save percentage in the playoffs thus far, but those stats would be much better if he had had a team in front of him that was playing better team defense. Rask was solid in every game against the Maple Leafs and on more than one occasion bailed his team out or at least gave the team a chance to win. As this second round begins, Rask is the least of the Bruins' worries and the one factor they know they can count on.

Rangers: Lundqvist is once again King, and as former Ranger Jaromir Jagr said on Wednesday, “As Hank goes, the Rangers go.” Right now Lundqvist is going, as he is 4-3 with a 1.65 goals-against average and .947 save percentage in the playoffs. Lundqvist was a major factor as the Rangers recovered from a 2-0 series deficit against the Capitals, and he will be difficult to beat for the Bruins.

Edge: Rangers. This by no means is a knock on Rask, but at this point, Rask is not quite the elite goalie that Lundqvist is.

Power Play

Bruins: The Bruins are 3-for-20 on the power play thus far in the Stanley Cup playoffs, but while they surely would like some more goals, there have been signs that the power play is improving. They are moving the puck better overall and, with the exception of Game 7, appear to be looking for the right play rather than the pretty play.

Rangers: The Rangers' power play is actually worse than the Bruins' power play, as New York has gone 2-for-28 in the playoffs. The Rangers' big guns, such as Nash and Richards, aren't getting the job done.

Edge: Even. This series will be won 5-on-5.

Penalty Kill

Bruins: The Bruins have allowed five goals on 21 power-play attempts against them in the playoffs. Their penalty kill has not been the amazing, shutdown crew it was for three-quarters of the regular season, but this is not an area of concern for Boston. Against a woeful Rangers power play, it shouldn't be an issue.

Rangers: The Rangers have been even better than the Bruins on the penalty kill, allowing just three goals on 16 attempts in the playoffs. Like the Bruins, the Rangers' PK is a pesky and opportunistic group and should make it difficult for the Bruins to get their power play on the scoreboard.

Edge: Even. Again, don't expect special teams to play a major role in this series.

Coaching

Bruins: Claude Julien was under heavy scrutiny as many (including this scribe) believed his job was in jeopardy heading into Game 7 with the Maple Leafs. But the Bruins became the first team to rally from a three-goal, third-period deficit in a Game 7, and Julien has lived to see another day. His job security shouldn't even have been an issue in the first place, as he has already proven himself by winning a Cup and dealing the best he could with an underachieving roster. He was a major reason the Bruins came back to win in Game 7 and he will be a major reason the Bruins advance if they're able to beat the Rangers.

Rangers: John Tortorella is one of the most boisterous and controversial coaches in the NHL. But he has won a Stanley Cup, and regardless of whether or not his players like him, they play for him. Tortorella helped his team weather an up-and-down season after being a popular preseason pick for the Stanley Cup. If the Rangers do fulfill those predictions, he would be a major reason why.

Edge: Even. Two great coaches should make for a strategic series between the Bruins and Rangers.

Prediction

Rangers in 6: The Rangers were heavy preseason favorites to be the 2013 Stanley Cup champions but until recently haven't shown signs that they could be. Much like the Bruins, the Rangers have some underachievers and haven't consistently played their game. But the playoffs can bring out the best in teams, and that is going to happen for one team here. The bet is that with a banged-up defense, even if the best comes out in the Bruins, they won't be able to handle the Rangers' best.

TORONTO -- The Boston Bruins erased an early two-goal deficit and finished with a 4-3 overtime win against the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals Wednesday night at Air Canada Centre.

The Bruins' David Krejci scored the winning goal at 13:06 of OT to complete a hat trick and give Boston a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. Game 5 is Friday night at TD Garden.

Krejci continues to be an offensive force with his three goals, including a power-play tally, while Patrice Bergeron also added a goal on the man-advantage.

The Maple Leafs had goals from Joffrey Lupul, Cody Franson and Clarke MacArthur.

Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask made 45 saves, while Toronto netminder James Reimer finished with 41.

After the Maple Leafs held their morning skate to prepare for Game 4, numerous Toronto players were talking about the importance of getting the first goal against the Bruins. Well, the Maple Leafs capitalized at the 2:35 mark of the first period to gain a 1-0 lead. Toronto's Phil Kessel threaded a pass to Lupul out front and he pumped it in for his third goal of the series.

The Bruins outshot the Maple Leafs 15-8 in the first period, but in the waning minutes Toronto took a two-goal lead when Franson's easy wrister from the right point beat a screened Rask for a 2-0 advantage.

The Maple Leafs blocked 13 shots in the first period, while Boston blocked two.

The Bruins stormed back in the second period and it didn't take them long to mount the comeback. Only 32 seconds into the period, Bergeron scored a power-play goal to cut Boston's deficit. The Bruins tied the game 2-2 when Krejci scored his first. He crashed the net and knocked home a Brad Marchand shot at 12:59 for his third goal of the series.

He wasn't done.

At 16:39, with the Maple Leafs' Colton Orr in the box for elbowing, Krejci scored a power-play goal to give the Bruins a 3-2 lead. His wrist shot from the left faceoff circle beat Reimer to the top left corner.

Boston's lead didn't last for long, however, as MacArthur scored at 17:23 to tie the game 3-3. The Maple Leafs had a 5-on-3 situation for 52 seconds at the end of the second period and to start the third. Boston stifled the attack and killed off the pair of penalties to keep the game tied at three.

The Bruins had a golden opportunity with a four-minute power play early in the third period, but could not capitalize. There was plenty of back-and-forth action in the third and the Bruins created numerous quality scoring chances, but couldn't convert. The Bruins' Nathan Horton had three of those chances.

In overtime, Krejci notched his fifth goal of this series to give the Bruins the win.

SCARY MOMENT: In the closing seconds of the first period, the Bruins were on the power play when forward Milan Lucic was hit in the face by a redirected puck. He dropped to the ice and was bleeding as the buzzer sounded to end the period. He got to his feet and slowly skated off the ice with team trainer Don Del Negro waiting for him at the bench. Lucic returned for the start of the second period and assisted on Bergeron's power-play goal at 32 seconds.

ANOTHER SCARY MOMENT: Nearly to the midway point of the third period, Lucic unloaded a slap shot from the top of the left faceoff circle that hit the Leafs' Mark Fraser in the forehead. The Toronto defenseman dropped to the ice and left a pool of blood. He was able to skate off the ice with the help of a trainer, but did not return.

INJURED: Early in the second period, Bruins defenseman Johnny Boychuk injured what appeared to be his left leg during a scramble in front of Rask. Boychuk skated gingerly to the bench, but came back for his next shift. It didn't last long as he returned to the bench in obvious pain and went to the dressing room. He returned to the ice two minutes later and finished the game.

Bruins forward Chris Kelly also was injured when he took a nasty high stick to the face by the Maple Leafs' Nazem Kadri 58 seconds into the third period. Kelly was cut on the play and skated directly to the dressing room and Kadri was handed a double-minor. The Bruins could not capitalize on the four-minute power play. Kelly returned and finished the game.

LINE TWEAK: Coach Claude Julien tweaked his lineup a bit in the second period by flip-flopping Shawn Thornton and Jaromir Jagr. Thornton played on the wing along with Chris Kelly and Rich Peverley. Jagr was lined with Gregory Campbell and Daniel Paille.

SCRATCHES: As expected, Julien kept the same lineup for Game 4. The healthy scratches for Boston were defensemen Dougie Hamilton and Aaron Johnson, along with forwards Kaspars Daugavins, Carl Soderberg and Jay Pandolfo.

UP NEXT: The series continues Friday with Game 5 at TD Garden with the Bruins having an opportunity to end it on home ice.

BOSTON -- The Bruins managed to silence their late-season critics with a convincing 4-1 win over the Maple Leafs in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinal series. Now, if they can avoid the inconsistency that plagued them in April and seize the momentum, they should be able to take this series.

A big part of the responsibility lies with the top line, which stepped up on Wednesday night.

Milan Lucic, David Krejci and Nathan Horton provided exactly what the team needed Wednesday night and combined for six points, including Horton’s game-winning goal at 19:48 of the first period. Overall, Krejci had a goal and two assists, Horton had one goal and Lucic added two assists.

“They’re a great part of our team and when they’re on their game like that we all feed off of it," said Bruins assistant captain Patrice Bergeron. "Last night they were obviously very good for us.

“I wasn’t even worried about it. You could tell also in the last few [regular-season] games Looch was really getting into his game and his groove. [Krejci] has been good all year, so it was great to see them play like that.”

With Horton back in the lineup after missing the last five regular-season games with an upper-body injury, the chemistry returned when the Bruins needed it most. He was forechecking, cycling the puck well and strong in front of the net, which produced his goal when he redirected a shot by defenseman Wade Redden and past Toronto goalie James Reimer for a power-play tally in the closing seconds of the first period.

Let’s face it, the Bruins’ top line wasn’t at its best for the majority of the season, but this threesome proved crucial in Game 1.

Horton’s goal was his ninth career playoff goal and his first since the 2011 Stanley Cup finals. He was absent from the playoffs in 2012 after suffering a season-ending concussion. This spring, he’s healthy and it showed in Game 1.

“He’s stepped up and scored some big goals and he’s been a big part of this hockey team since he’s been here and I even said it, it was a big loss not having him a part of our group last year heading into the playoffs and it’s good to see him healthy again and helping us win,” Lucic said.

Krejci has always performed on the big stage. His three total points on Wednesday matched his totals from the final 13 games of the regular season. He now has five career postseason games with three or more points.

If the Bruins enjoy a deep run in the Stanley Cup playoffs, at this pace Krejci could challenge his 23-point total (12 goals and 11 assists) during the 2011 playoffs.

"I’m just trying to go out there, do my best and help the team to win games,” he said. “As a line, I think we did a good job. We put the puck in the net. But in the playoffs, there’s always somebody new to be a hero, so [Wednesday] I feel like we had a good game, but if we want to make a good run, we know that we’re going to need all four lines.”

Krejci’s humble attitude does not go unnoticed by his teammates. He can also be cocky in the most professional way possible, and that’s why he’s able to perform at such a high level in the playoffs.

“David, I think he’s really underrated,” said Bruins forward Daniel Paille. “He’s a skilled player, but he can play with some grit and that’s what I love about him, the way he steps up for us that way. They stepped up huge for us and continue to dominate like they did. When they play strong that way, they’re a tough line to stop and it’s really fun to watch them.”

When Lucic plays mean and with passion, the results are usually positive for the Bruins. When he’s at his best, the team feeds off his energy and it normally equals success. It’s worked that way in the past, and it did again in Game 1.

Of course, there’s plenty of hockey remaining, so he and his teammates will need to maintain that level of play.

“It’s a part of my game. It’s the way I have to play and like I said, we just got to keep it going,” Lucic said.

The Bruins did not practice Thursday, as players were given the day off to rest or receive treatment. They’ll be back on the practice ice Friday morning at Ristuccia Arena to prepare for Game 2 Saturday at 7:05 p.m. at TD Garden.

Meanwhile, the Maple Leafs practiced at Boston University on Thursday and will look to even this series before it shifts to the Air Canada Centre for Games 3 and 4 next Monday and Wednesday.

Boston will try to build on its performance from Game 1, one that the Bruins have been trying to find all season.

“Playoffs are so different than in-season,” Krejci said. “You’re trying to build something, and I feel like we built something in the first game. We have to carry it on into the second, but we know that Toronto is going to be even better on Saturday, so we have to bring our ‘A’ game again.”

If the Bruins’ top line can match its performance from Game 1, that shouldn’t be a problem.

“It was the first time in a long time where we really pushed the pace and you can see in the first period that we wanted to come out with a better outcome than being down 1-0 or just being tied 1-1 and we were pushing and pushing and pushing,” Lucic said. “So, we’re just focused on what we need to do to be successful and it was great that everyone was able to step up and contribute, but it’s only one game and there’s a long, long road ahead and I know with a great coach like they have they’re going to make certain adjustments and come out even harder in Game 2.”

BOSTON -- For the past two days, the Boston Bruins insisted their late-season funk was in the rearview mirror. There would be no more blown leads in the third period and no more lackluster starts. The skilled and physical Bruins would return.

Well, the Bruins kept their promises as they overcame an early Toronto Maple Leafs power-play goal and scored the next four goals, dominating the Leafs 4-1 in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series.

David Krejci had a goal and two assists, Wade Redden had a goal and an assist and Nathan Horton and Johnny Boychuk both lit the lamp for the Bruins. Tuukka Rask looked solid between the pipes, making 19 saves, with James van Riemsdyk’s power-play goal in the opening period the only shot that beat him.

For the Leafs, James Reimer was under siege all night as the Bruins poured 40 shots on him.

Lucic-Krejci-Horton line clicks again: One of the big question marks heading into this series was whether Milan Lucic, Krejci and Horton could find their magic again. If Game 1 is any indication, the band is back together and the magic is there. In addition to Krejci’s three-point performance and Horton lighting the lamp, Lucic had two helpers and continued to look more like the Lucic who used a combination of grit, size and skating to earn two straight seasons of 20-plus goals. The chemistry was back as Horton and Lucic got to open spaces to benefit from Krejci’s playmaking skills, and Krejci looked a lot like the player who was a candidate for the 2011 Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.

Bruins defense provides offensive boost: Prior to Game 1, coach Claude Julien lauded Redden for his recent play and puck-moving skills. Redden continued to impress with his goal and an assist, but the Bruins' entire defense did a great job of moving the puck and creating offense in Game 1. In addition to Boychuk's goal, Bruins defensemen helped in peppering Reimer and controlling neutral zone play.

Power play looks better: While the Bruins’ power play (1-for-5) can certainly still be better, it did convert once and moved the puck a lot better. The passes were crisp, and there was less hesitation. If that continues, the scoring production will increase.

Suspension coming for Ference? Andrew Ference could very well be sitting out a game or more after elbowing Leafs forward Mikhail Grabovski in the head in the first period. No penalty was called, but the replay clearly shows an elbow to the head.

Bruins have two goals called back: Things could have been even worse for the Leafs if not for two Bruins goals being called back. The referees and replay officials got it right in calling back a Tyler Seguin shot that clearly rang off the post 1:10 into the second period. But Patrice Bergeron’s no-goal was a bit questionable as the referees claimed the whistle was blown before Bergeron pushed it into the net. But even if the refs were wrong, the rule states if they intended to blow it and didn’t do it in time, then it’s still not a goal.

Bad blood boils at end: In addition to Ference’s questionable hit to the head of Grabovski, there was plenty of hard hitting throughout the game. As time wound down in the third period and it was clear the Bruins would win, the Leafs decided to let the Bruins know they were still there, taking plenty of extra hits after the whistle and then stirring things up at the final buzzer. The result was a Chris Kelly-Leo Komarov fight. It should be a physical Game 2.

Hamilton and Peverley sit: Not surprisingly, Julien kept Dougie Hamilton in the press box as a healthy scratch. The defenseman struggled in his last few games of the regular season, and Julien seems to have opted to take the learning-from-up-top route he took with Seguin as a rookie to start the 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs. While Rich Peverley might have had an off season, one would think Julien would prefer playoff and Cup experience in the lineup instead of an inexperienced Kaspars Daugavins. But it was Daugavins playing with Kelly and Jaromir Jagr for Game 1.

Here’s what the rest of the lineup looked like:

Forwards
Milan Lucic-David Krejci-Nathan Horton
Brad Marchand-Bergeron-Tyler Seguin
Daugavins-Kelly-Jagr
Daniel Paille-Gregory Campbell-Shawn Thornton

Defensemen
Zdeno Chara-Dennis Seidenberg
Ference-Boychuk
Redden-Adam McQuaid

Goalies
Rask
Anton Khudobin

BOSTON -- Boston Bruins forward David Krejci grew up with a poster of Jaromir Jagr on his bedroom wall.

So when informed that the Dallas Stars now seem keen on trading the 41-year-old before Wednesday’s trade deadline, Krejci turned reflective about his boyhood idol.

“He was the best for a long time, and he’s still one of the best right now,” said Krejci, who was just 4 years old when Jagr made his NHL debut with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1990. “It’s good to see him still do well at his age. I had posters of him when I was a kid. He was obviously my hockey idol.”

The Bruins, a source told ESPN.com, covet Jagr, so you can bet general manager Peter Chiarelli will be on the phone with Dallas executives trying to strike a deal.

The Bruins know their dressing room is likely to change before Wednesday’s 3 p.m. deadline, but they’re trying to remain focused on what is immediately in front of them: a matchup against the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday night at TD Garden.

“You try not to think about it because we have a game tonight,” Krejci said. “The trade deadline is tomorrow and we’re not stupid, we know anything can happen. On the other hand, there are things you can’t control, so we’ll focus on the game tonight and whatever happens tomorrow afternoon happens.”

Bruins center David Krejci is back in the lineup Thursday night vs. the Senators.

Krejci had been termed a game-time decision after rejoining linemates Milan Lucic and Nathan Horton at Thursday morning's skate. The Bruins announced Krejci's return via Twitter shortly before the puck dropped in Ottawa.

Krejci missed Tuesday's loss to Winnipeg after a puck struck his right knee in the third period of Boston's 2-1 loss to Pittsburgh on Sunday.

Also, in a surprising move by head coach Claude Julien, Rich Peverley was a healthy scratch. That gave Ottawa native and rookie Ryan Spooner a chance to play his first NHL game in his hometown.

Boston Bruins center David Krejci took to the ice Thursday morning for the first time since he injured his knee Sunday, and is a game-time decision for Thursday night’s matchup against the Senators in Ottawa.

“We’ll see how he feels after warmups,” coach Claude Julien told reporters. “If he feels good, then he’s going to go.”

Krejci took his usual spot centering the first line with Milan Lucic and Nathan Horton at the morning skate at Scotiabank Place.

The 26-year-old hurt took a puck off his right knee in the third period of Sunday’s 2-1 loss against the Pittsburgh Penguins and had to be helped off the ice. He sat out Monday’s practice and missed Tuesday’s loss to the Winnipeg Jets.

“The first two days felt awful,” Krejci told reporters Thursday. “Then yesterday I woke up and it was so much better. Today was better again. So, it’s a game-time decision, we’ll see.”

Krejci is tied for the team lead with seven goals and 17 assists for 24 points.
To take his place, the Bruins had recalled forward Ryan Spooner from Providence on Monday afternoon. Spooner would likely be a healthy scratch if Krejci plays Thursday.