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  • Player of the Game: Bruins-Rangers Game 4

    Playoff Central

    Player of the Game: Bruins-Rangers Game 4

    Chris Chirichiello May 24, 2013
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    On a night where it looked like the Bruins were heading for a clean sweep of the New York Rangers, everything changed in an instance when Tuukka Rask stumbled and fell leading to Carl Hagelin’s goal.

    That play alone changed the whole complexion of the game and from that point forward, the Black and Gold began to make costly mistakes. Whether it was the Rask and Chara exchange or the too many men on the ice penalty, the Rangers took advantage in their 4-3 overtime victory and lived to fight another day.

    Former Boston College standout Chris Kreider scored the game-winning goal beating Rask on a pretty deflection in front of the net. Kreider is only the second Massachusetts born player to score a playoff OT goal against the B’s (Bob Sweeney).

    Kreider recorded his sixth career NHL postseason goal including his third game-winner.

    “I just kind of buried my head and drove toward the net,” Kreider said. “It’s so surreal. It’s not something that can really be explained. It’s something that just has to be felt, but it was awesome and I’m just excited to give these guys an opportunity to play another game.”

    Kreider finished the game with 13:50 of ice time, had three shots, was a plus-two and scored the Bluershirts’ biggest goal of the postseason.

    That was Kreider’s first goal of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs in seven games. He has not been much of a factor while on the ice, but on this night he was. Even during the regular season he only played in 23 games recording three points (two goals and one assist).

    Henrik Lundqvist made all of this possible for Kreider after he turned away seven B’s shots in the extra frame.

    “I told the guys before the game there was no way we were losing this game,” said the Rangers goalie. “We want to keep playing. We owe it to ourselves, to our fans. All our focus today was just on this game. Now we move our focus to the next game and the first period of that game. We will see how far it takes us.”

    Kreider, who was pushed to the second-line with Rick Nash due to the coaching decisions by John Tortorella, made the best of his opportunity forcing a Game 5 Saturday night in Boston.

    “Goonies never say die,” Kreider told NHL.com.

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