The New York Rangers visit the Boston Bruins at TD Garden for Game 5 of their Eastern Conference Semifinals match-up starting at 5:30 p.m. The Bruins lead the series 3-1. For a preview go to Yahoo! Sports.

Rangers Game Notes

TV: NBC Sports Network; Radio: ESPN Radio (98.7 FM), XM 92

Live Stream (Don't click on ads in stream, may download virus):
http://www.firstrow1.eu/watch/187800/1/watch-new-york-rangers-vs-boston-bruins.html

Probable Lines:
Hagelin-Brassard-Callahan
Nash-Stepan-Kreider
Pyatt-Boyle-Zuccarello
Haley-Newbury-Dorsett

McDonagh-Girardi
Del Zotto-Moore
Hamrtime-Eminger

Goaltenders:
Henrik Lundqvist - 5-6, 2.15 gaa, .934 sv%, 2 so.

Tuukka Rask - 7-4, 2.33 gaa, .925 sv%, 0 so

Opponent Notes:
- David Krejci leads the Bruins with 5g, 12a in the playoffs.

Hank Winnick/Newsday

Andrew Gross at the Bergen Record reports that Chris Kreider was given a maintenance day from the team's optional practice today.

...reward for the game winner? lol

Meanwhile, Pat Leonard at the Daily News says that Ryane Clowe, Brad Richards, Darroll Powe and Marc Staal all skated with the taxi squad players before the optional. Anton Stralman did not practice today.

Gross adds that Michael Haley, Kris Newbury and Roman Hamrlik all participated in the optional.

...can you say same line-up in Game 5? If it ain't broke....

...having said that, I'm concerned about Hamrlik as he was made to look like a parking cone a few time during the game last night. Really need Stralman back soon.

Finally, John Tortorella admitted during his post practice press conference today that he liked what he saw from Ryan McDonagh on the power play last night and he screwed it up by not putting him there sooner.

We all know hockey is an emotionally-driven sport. The players feed off of it and are sometimes energized by it. Salty language usually couples high emotions, but did you ever expect to hear a referee engage in it?

That's exactly what happened last night in Game 4 between the Bruins and Rangers. During a stoppage, John Tortorella can be seen on the CNBC broadcast mouthing off to someone off camera. It turns out to be a referee, and the mics pick up what the official said back...

- It's always funny to hear these exchanges, especially on live TV. Torts really laid into the ref after getting cursed at. Lucky he wasn't tossed.

This wasn't the only instance of curing caught on live TV.

One thing about Chris Kreider that has always sort of bothered me is that he's a bit aloof. He doesn't wear his emotions on his sleeve and he looks borderline bored sometimes out on the ice. But man that all changed with one re-direction goal to give the Rangers a Game 4 overtime victory and keep them alive in their best of seven series to the Bruins. Just look at the above pic. Pretty fired up just looking at it.

Here's the goal, which was an absolute thing of beauty...

...i think we're learning that at this point in his career, Kreider needs to be on a line with talent to be effective. He''s not  ready to be the focal point of the line just yet. Hopefully, after last night Tortorella is finally realizing this as well and the Rangers can finally start having some consistent offense in this series.

...oh yeah, sweet pass from Nash.

Here's Kreider on the winner (via New York Post)...

After last night's 4-3 overtime win, John Tortorella defended Brad Richards and his decision to bench the Rangers alternate captain...

...Tortorella is 100% correct with his assessment that Richards does himself and the Rangers team no good playing on the fourth line. And with how poorly he's played, he doesn't deserve a spot in the top nine. Having said that, I think this series against the Bruins and an absolutely terrible match-up for Zuccarello and the Rangers might be better off with Richards and his playoff experience playing on the third line than the Hobbit. But as I said last night, real hard to change the line-up after a big win.

...this interview is vintage Torts. Amazing job deflecting the embarrassment of being a healthy scratch away from Richards and putting the focus on himself by saying the word "ass" in front of the media. Amazing how easily distracted the fourth pillar is.

Speaking of Richards, Katie Strang at ESPN.com describes the pros and cons of buying him out this offseason...

It was 2-0 nothing Bruins. The Rangers had no life, no heart and no passion. And then Tuukka Rask pretty much single handedly gave the Rangers a spark that Blueshirt fans have been begging for all series...

Here's Rask on what happened (via Daily News)...

“I just took a step to the side and what I think there was probably a skate mark or something and my skate dug in it. That’s what it felt like. I lost my balance and the rest is history. It happens to me twice a year in practice, maybe. . . . Just a tough, tough mistake. It looks pretty bad on TV, I bet.”

...i never want to hear a Rangers fan complain about the ice at MSG ever again.

Here's Henrik Lundqvist on the importance of the goal (via ESPN.com)...

Bergen Record - Rangers force Game 5 with 4-3 OT victory over Bruins

Bergen Record - Gross: Rangers coach John Tortorella needed big assist from Bruins after desperate moves

Bergen Record - Rangers notes: Power play delivers

New York Post - Kreider’s OT winner keeps Rangers breathing

New York Post - McDonagh anchors Rangers’ defense

New York Post - Blueshirts finally flick on the ‘power’ switch

New York Post - Rangers' Richards deserved the hook

New York Post - Fired-up Tortorella defends benched star

Daily News - Not quite over time: Rangers rally to stop Bruins, save season in OT

Daily News - Bondy: Favorable bounces and Kreider extend Rangers season

Daily News - Bruins' Tuukka falls on his Rask

New York Times - Little Bit of Luck Helps Rangers Keep Brooms Away

New York Times - Winning Goal by Kreider Offers Flashback to 2012

Wall Street Journal - Rangers Stay Alive With OT Win

Newsday - Kreider's OT goal helps Rangers stay alive

Newsday - Kreider: Overtime goal was 'surreal'

Newsday - Richards 'disappointed' about Game 4 scratch

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The New York Rangers defeated the Boston Bruins by the score of 4-3 in overtime, tonight. The Bruins lead the series 3-1. For a box score go to Yahoo! Sports.

...obviously coming back from 0-3 deficit is a near impossible task, but when you see what happened to Rask on the Hagelin goal, you have to wonder if there's a little magic going on here for the Rangers.

...it only took three games, one and a half periods and a Rask tumble, but the Rangers finally remembered how you have to play to win in the playoffs. While it was truly baffling to see the Rangers, again, begin the game with zero emotion, I loved the desperation in the third period and overtime.

...so wait, if you don't bury Kreider on the fourth line, he actually plays well? Amazing how that happens.

...i've been killing Nash for not scoring in the playoffs, but he was in full beast mode tonight. Easily his best game of the playoffs.

...they didn't play much, but I absolutely loved what the fourth line brought to the table tonight. Forechecking, hitting and basically making the Bruins fourth line look like little bitches as they backed down from every invitation to dance.

...who knew the answer to the Rangers power play woes was Brian Boyle?

...seriously, is there anything sweeter than watching Stepan pick Chara's pocket like that?

...wait, Hamrlik ended up with an assist and was a +1? I don't even remember him being on the ice once after that delay of game penalty.

The New York Rangers host the Boston Bruins at Madison Square Garden for Game 4 of their Eastern Conference Semifinals match-up starting at 7:00 p.m. The Bruins lead the series 3-0. For a preview go to Yahoo! Sports.

Rangers Game Notes

TV: CNBC; Radio: ESPN Radio (98.7 FM), XM 92

Live Stream (Don't click on ads in stream, may download virus):
http://www.firstrow1.eu/watch/187800/1/watch-new-york-rangers-vs-boston-bruins.html

Probable Lines:
Hagelin-Stepan-Callahan
Nash-Brassard-Zuccarello
Pyatt-Boyle-Dorsett
Haley-Newbury-Kreider

McDonagh-Girardi
Del Zotto-Eminger
Hamrtime-Moore

Goaltenders:
Henrik Lundqvist - 4-6, 2.10 gaa, .935 sv%, 2 so.

Tuukka Rask - 7-3, 2.19 gaa, .930 sv%, 0 so

Opponent Notes:
- David Krejci leads the Bruins with 5g, 11a in the playoffs. In Game 3, Krejci was held scoreless for just the second time this postseason (10 games).

While there's next to zero chance he plays in tonight's Game 4, there was some good news on the Marc Staal injury front as he reported progress with his blurred vision and altered depth perception after practice today (via Bergen Record)...

“That week after the game I didn’t play [Game 4 against the Capitals], I had some ups and downs and I took a few days off to let things settle down. The last two days have been better so we’ll go from there. It’s worse to sit and watch than it is to deal with the eye."

...really excited to hear that there's some improvement. I'm still very concerned that he'll never regain 100% of his vision. But if he feels comfortable playing again by next fall I'm confident he can still be a very productive NHL player for the Rangers.