Thirty seconds into overtime in Sunday night’s crucial Game 4 of the Eastern Conference final at the Garden, the Rangers were called for their ninth penalty of the game.
That the Rangers even made it to overtime was somewhat miraculous considering they handed the Canadiens eight power plays in the game — only one of which Montreal converted into a goal, which happened to be its first power-play goal of the series after going 0-for-15.
But the Rangers — with their imposing 6-foot-7 fourth-line center, the unheralded Brian Boyle, in the middle of it all — did what they’ve been doing for most of these playoffs: They killed the overtime penalty.
It was a penalty kill that led to their 3-2 overtime win, a kill that has helped get them a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.
“It was a big kill; it was a huge difference in the game,’’ Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh said. “It allowed us to relax and get back into our game.’’
The overtime penalty was yet another in a series of inexplicable offensive-zone infractions by Benoit Pouliot.
“We didn’t panic,’’ McDonagh said. “We certainly had a lot of practice [on the penalty kill] earlier in the game. There were some great plays by Brian Boyle.’’
Indeed, Boyle was as much a key to Sunday’s win as he’s been to this magical playoff run.
For the Rangers center, who might as well go by “Big Game Brian’’ based on how much he elevates his game in the playoffs, this postseason has significant underlying personal meaning because he’s scheduled to become a free agent and has made it clear he wants to remain a Ranger.
With every playoff game he plays, Boyle’s case to remain a Ranger becomes stronger.
Boyle, in the final year of a three-year, $5.1 million contract, notched a huge assist on the Rangers’ first goal and contributed more superb penalty killing.
The way the Rangers took a 1-0 lead at 7:18 of the first period was perfectly fitting to Boyle’s game and his strength, in that it came with the Rangers short-handed, and it came with Boyle playing a supporting role.
Boyle set the table for the Rangers lead when he slid a perfect pass up ice to a streaking Carl Hagelin with the Canadiens deep in the Rangers zone on the power play. After taking a pass from McDonagh from behind the net, Boyle’s long pinpoint pass connected with Hagelin’s stick just as Hagelin was crossing the Montreal blue line on a breakaway.
Along with his assist, Boyle was a part of the Rangers’ top penalty killing unit that has been one of the team’s strengths. The Canadiens were 1-for-8 in 14:33 of power-play time Sunday night and are 1-for-17 in the series.
“He plays real important minutes for us as far as penalty killing and a lot of times I’m not afraid at all to use him or his line against the other team’s top line,’’ Rangers coach Alain Vigneault said. “For whatever reason … his game is better now than it was in the regular season.’’
History shows Boyle is a better player in the playoffs. After producing six goals and 12 assists in 82 regular-season games, Boyle has followed that with two goals and three assists in 18 playoff games.
“You win with guys like him,’’ defenseman John Moore said.
“He’s built for the playoffs,’’ Derek Dorsett, one of Boyle’s linemates, said.
“He loves playing in the big games,’’ Chris Kreider said. “You can tell he definitely raised his level, which is awesome. He brings so much to this team; you just can’t really say enough about him.’’
Boyle hopes that feeling resonates in the Rangers front office once this Stanley Cup run concludes.
“I’ve talked about it a lot — I want to stay,’’ Boyle said. “I don’t know what’s going to happen, so I’m trying to enjoy this now.’’