BC in the NHL Playoffs, May 16: Kings Stun, Bruins Outlast

Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

The Stanley Cup playoffs are getting good, and both games played on Thursday night involved ex-Boston College Eagles.

In the school’s hometown, the Boston Bruins outlasted the New York Rangers in a 3-2 overtime victory, with the Bruins taking a 1-0 series lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals. The local fans are probably quite pleased with the result this morning, though the former Eagles on the Rangers most likely do not share the enthusiasm. Chris Kreider did play in Game 1 as Ryane Clowe would appear to be out indefinitely; again, his defensive play (which was the primary concern of his Rangers coaches relative to his development) looked improved, with Kreider blocking two shots and totaling three hits in eleven and a half minutes.

Kreider’s teammate, Brian Boyle, played thirty shifts at center and won a majority of his faceoffs. Boyle’s defensive numbers were even better with the larger amount of ice time, blocking three shots and leveling five hits. He was also +1 for the game.

The Rangers and Bruins will be back in action for Game 2 on Sunday afternoon.

All the way out on the west coast, in a game that was probably (hopefully) not as slow for long stretches as Rangers-Bruins, a shocking finish came about. The Los Angeles Kings came back from a 3-2 deficit with less than two minutes to go to win, 4-3, in regulation. LA scored two power play goals in 22 seconds to tie and then take the lead, shoving the San Jose Sharks back to an 0-2 deficit as the series swings north to the Bay Area.

Ex-Eagle Rob Scuderi did not gather any points in the contest, and one of his only measurable contributions on the evening was two blocked shots in about 19 minutes on the ice.

Game 3 of that series will be on Saturday night.

On Friday night, Brooks Orpik and his Pittsburgh Penguins will look to take a 2-0 series lead over the visiting Ottawa Senators.