NHL Playoffs 2013: Boston Bruins vs. New York Rangers Series Preview

The second round of the NHL Playoffs are finally upon us, which means it’s time to look ahead to what the conference semifinal round hold. From the best team in hockey down to those who limped into hockey’s Eight Eight, this year’s semifinal field is loaded with teams itching to see their championship dreams realized. All the action kicks off May 14th, so let’s take a look at what’s in store for the Boston Bruins and New York Rangers.

Series Schedule: 

	TIME (ET)	#4  VS.  #6	NETWORKS
THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2013	7:30 P.M.	NY RANGERS AT BOSTON	NBCSN, TSN, RDS
SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2013	3:00 P.M.	NY RANGERS AT BOSTON	NBC, TSN, RDS
TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2013	7:30 P.M.	BOSTON AT NY RANGERS	NBCSN, TSN, RDS
THURSDAY, MAY 23, 2013	7 P.M.	BOSTON AT NY RANGERS	CNBC, TSN, RDS
*SATURDAY, MAY 25, 2013	TBD	NY RANGERS AT BOSTON	TSN, RDS
*MONDAY, MAY 27, 2013	TBD	BOSTON AT NY RANGERS	TSN, RDS
*WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013	TBD	NY RANGERS AT BOSTON	TSN, RDS

Boston Bruins:

Boston is playing for more than just bragging right, they’re doing this for an entire city on the mend. Things got tight against the Toronto Maple Leafs, but ultimately Boston was able to prevail, which is fitting for how the community is still holding itself together in this time of healing. The Bruins are no strangers to deep runs in the playoffs as they’re just two years removed from a Stanley Cup victory that saw them tear through the conference. The only question is how different is this team? So far, the physicality seems to be there but the goal scoring needs to come through. Boston is coming into the series piping hot, fresh off a 5 goal comeback win over the Maple Leafs. So they have the momentum, but New York is riding high as well after their massive seven game victory over a far better Washington Capitals team. Boston will need to remain hot, or they could fall back in this series quickly.

New York Rangers:

The Rangers are still my favorite to come out of the Eastern Conference and represent in the Stanley Cup Finals. They demonstrated why in their series against the Capitals as they never gave up and never let up, even when faced with heartbreaking losses. Twice the Rangers went to overtime with the Caps and twice they lost. But after a crushing Game 5 loss, something possessed he Rangers and they breezed past the Caps in the final two games of the series. Talk about Boston coming into the series hot, New York is fresh off of outscoring the 3-seeded Capitals 6-0 in the final two deciding games of the series. They have defenseman who aren’t afraid to block shots, as was the case in the final second of Game 6 where everyone was dropping to one knee to stop the puck, and then they have Henrik Lundqvist. They’re a 6-seed up New York is playing hockey at a much higher level.

Bottom Line: 

Boston is a great story, and you never want to subtract from that. But they’re not the better team in the series and New York showed why in the last round. Boston struggled to get past the Maple Leafs, a team that lucked themselves into the postseason while the Rangers blew past the Capitals in the final two games of their series to enter the semifinal round a red-hot squad. Henrik Lundqvist will be the x-factor in the series as he makes incredible saves that make other top netminders in the NHL blush. But it will come down to whether or not he can get the run support he needs, as New York needs to continue the scoring trend they’re on after Game’s 6 and 7 rather than the struggles they faced in finishing games in regulation earlier in the series. At the end of the day, this will be a series to be glued to if not for the talent involved, then for the fact it’s a clash between to Original Six teams fighting for a Stanley Cup.

Rangers win series 4-2