The Rangers solved their Game 2 problem, keeping the Bruins’ dynamic top two lines off the score sheet.
This time, however, they had no answer for the Bruins’ fourth line of grinders.
The trio of Daniel Paille, Gregory Campbell and Shawn Thornton produced the tying and game-winning goals in the Bruins’ come-from-behind, 2-1 win over the Rangers in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinal series last night at the Garden, doing what their star-studded teammates could not in beating Henrik Lundqvist twice.
“It’s not too often it happens, and when it does, everybody is happy for you,” said Paille, wearing the Army Rangers jacket given to the Bruins’ Player of the Game by teammates. “We’re happy to contribute tonight and get us a win, but we had a lot of guys that worked hard and just couldn’t put the puck in the net. It was just our night tonight.”
And now, the Bruins are one win away — perhaps coming tomorrow night back at MSG — from advancing to the conference finals.
“We have confidence in that line, we’ve said it a million times. Tonight is no exception,” Bruins coach Claude Julien said. “We utilize them because they’re good, not because we have to.”
PHOTOS: RANGERS LOSE TO BRUINS
The goals were far from pieces of art, but they were Picassos in Boston’s eyes. Defenseman Johnny Boychuk pulled the Bruins even with a long shot from the right point at 3:10 of the third period, a shot Lundqvist appeared never to see through screens set by Thornton and Paille.
Paille got the winner with 3:31 left in regulation, sprinting around the net to poke home the rebound of a Thornton shot that deflected off Lundqvist’s mask, over his head and nearly trickled past the goal-line. Thornton raised his arms in mistaken exultation, though the officials didn’t signal a goal until Paille beat the stationary Rangers defensemen to the puck.
“I planned on tipping it over his head,” joked Thornton, who had two assists.
The group has been together since midway through the 2010-11 season, when Campbell was acquired in a trade. Thornton said they work so well together because they know each other’s strengths and weaknesses and have a good idea of where one another will be at all times.
That seemed to be evident on Paille’s second goal of the playoffs. The three cycled the puck, keeping the pressure on until Thornton got his chance and Paille applied the finishing touches.
“I just kept going,” Paille said. “I saw it bounce the other way and I put my stick on it.”
Despite last night’s heroics, the trio knows their role isn’t to score big goals. They take more pride in winning puck battles then depositing them into the back of nets. And for good reason.
“If we don’t try to win every battle,” Thornton said, “we don’t get back there. It’s a bit of a necessity, I guess.”