BC in the NHL Playoffs, May 12: Eaves’ Wings Advance; Rangers Force Game 7
By Joe Micik
Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Patrick Eaves and the Detroit Red Wings are through to the Western Conference semifinals against the President’s Trophy-winning Chicago Blackhawks after their Game 7 victory on Sunday night.
Detroit took the deciding game of their series against the Anaheim Ducks, 3-2. Former Boston College Eagle Patrick Eaves played only seven minutes on the right wing, blocking a shot and taking the puck away once in fifteen short shifts. He is one step closer to getting his name etched onto Lord Stanley’s Cup; he joined his most recent two teams (Carolina and Detroit) both a few years after their most recent championships.
One-year Eagle Ben Lovejoy was eliminated with his Ducks; he registered five shots on goal and was one of the most present players on the ice for Anaheim with over 26 minutes of playing time.
Another Game 7 will take place on Monday night, but this one will be clear across the country in the nation’s capital. Henrik Lundqvist’s outstanding effort helped push the New York Rangers into a 3-3 series tie as the Blueshirts defeated the Washington Capitals, 1-0. Chris Kreider made his 2013 home playoff debut in Game 6 at Madison Square Garden on Sunday afternoon, but he only played five shifts and had time to register two hits; it was his second game played in this series.
Brian Boyle, who scored the Rangers’ only goal in Game 5, fired just one shot on goal during his seventeen and a half minutes of ice time. He again struggled on the faceoff, going 5-7 for the game. Boyle has played in five of the six games in this series and totaled three points (2g, 1a).
As for who the winner of that series will play, good question: it all depends on who wins the Boston-Toronto Game 7 on Monday night. The Maple Leafs forced a decisive game with a win at the other ACC, the Air Canada Centre.
The Bruins’ minor-league affiliate in Providence is currently ahead 2-0 in its Calder Cup playoff series with the Penguins’ team; ex-Eagle Tommy Cross and all the rest will take to the ice again on Wednesday night for Game 3.