Boston went ahead by two goals in the first minute of the third period, added another 12 minutes later and beat the New York Rangers 5-2 to take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinals. Just six days earlier, the Bruins became the first team to win a Game 7 after trailing by three goals in the third period. The second period may have been New York's best of the series even though Johnny Boychuk's tie-breaking goal on a 40-foot shot at 12:08 of the period got past goalie Henrik Lundqvist, who was screened by several players. With a two-goal lead, the Bruins remained aggressive but still clogged the middle in front of goalie Tuukka Rask when the Rangers attacked. Boston never trailed as rookie Torey Krug scored the first goal at 5:28 of the first period before Rangers captain Ryan Callahan tied it less than three minutes later. Gregory Campbell made it 2-1 at 2:24 of the second period, and New York pulled even again 56 seconds later on Rick Nash's goal, his first of the playoffs after he led the Rangers with 21 in the regular season. Lundqvist allowed more than five goals for the first time in 152 games, including the postseason, and stopped 27 shots. The Bruins played their second straight game without injured veteran defensemen Andrew Ference, Dennis Seidenberg and Wade Redden ... In their nine playoff games, the Rangers have scored on two of 35 power plays.

The Boston coach got his wish with the help of some shaky defense by the New York Rangers. Brad Marchand and Milan Lucic scored in the final period after Johnny Boychuk broke a tie in the second, Lundqvist gave up more than four goals for the first time in 152 games, and Boston beat New York 5-2 on Sunday to take a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinal series. Games 3 and 4 in the best-of-seven series will be played in New York on Tuesday and Thursday nights. Patrice Bergeron carried the puck in deep on the right side and passed across the crease to Marchand, who had gotten behind defenseman Dan Girardi for a tip-in. The Bruins went ahead to stay, 3-2, at 12:08 of the second period when Boychuk, who had one goal in the regular season, shot a 40-footer inside the near post for his third playoff goal. Boston never trailed as rookie Torey Krug scored the first goal before Rangers captain Ryan Callahan tied it. Gregory Campbell made it 2-1, and New York pulled even again on Rick Nash's goal, his first of the playoffs after he led the Rangers with 21 in the regular season. [...] Lundqvist posted consecutive shutouts in Games 6 and 7 against the Capitals when the Rangers faced elimination. Marchand gave the Bruins a two-goal advantage when he scored on a play just like the one that gave Boston a 3-2 overtime win on Thursday night.

[...] Period_3, Boston, Campbell 1 (Krug, McQuaid), 2:24. Penalties_Dorsett, NYR (roughing), 3:46; Kelly, Bos (roughing), 3:46; Brassard, NYR (hooking), 8:28; Asham, NYR (roughing), 11:46; Thornton, Bos (roughing), 11:46; Peverley, Bos (high-sticking), 13:57. [...] Period_6, Boston, Marchand 2 (Bergeron, Bartkowski), :26. Penalties_Boychuk, Bos (hooking), 5:24; Dorsett, NYR, major (fighting), 13:09; Campbell, Bos, major (fighting), 13:09; Thornton, Bos (cross-checking), 18:48.

BOSTON (AP) — In the corner of the Boston Bruins' locker room, hanging from the hooks in Andrew Ference's stall, is a yellow running singlet with the team's "Spoked B" logo on the front. Carr texts encouraging messages, or simply joins them for a beer so they can talk about anything but hockey or war. The guys that are seeing this are in awe, they're very humbled: 'Oh, my God, this professional hockey team is using our insignia, out there performing for us. Patrice Bergeron was awarded the jacket after scoring the tying and winning goals in the overtime victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 7 of the first round Monday night. Carr called his graduation from Ranger training school the proudest moment in his life, and said wearing the "Ranger" tab, or patch, for the first time "makes you feel like you're invincible." The hockey players cringe at the comparisons between their sport and the combat that the Rangers have seen. [...] it can be odd to be in the Boston locker room and hear players speak with such reverence of the Rangers — especially during a playoff series against their Original Six rivals from New York.

With veterans Dennis Seidenberg, Andrew Ference and Wade Redden injured, the Bruins used first-round draft pick Dougie Hamilton along with Krug and Mart Bartkowski on defense. Hamilton assisted on Krug's goal with 2:55 left in regulation, and Bartkowski played a career-high 26 minutes in the 3-2 victory over the Rangers. Hamilton, who made the team out of training camp and played 42 games in the lockout-shortened season, said it helps to know that he won't be yanked out of the lineup with one bad shift. Hamilton, the No. 9 overall pick in the 2011 draft, had five goals and 11 assists this season while averaging about 17 minutes per game. To help fill in, the Bruins called Bartkowski up from the AHL for the third time this year; he had two assists and six penalty minutes in 11 games for Boston this year. The 2009 Norris Trophy-winner, who averaged about 25 minutes per game in the regular season, has played about 30 minutes per game in the playoffs, including 35 minutes in Game 7 against the Maple Leafs and more than 38 in the opener of the Rangers series.