rangers 3 - bruins 2 (SO)

The Bruins jumped out to a 2-0 lead against the Rangers last night, and played a hard fought game, only to have their lead eroded late in the third period. When Marcus Naslund scored with 53 seconds left in the game, the Rangers gave ample evidence of why they retain first place in the Eastern Conference - simply stated, they find ways to win.

After an overtime that saw Marc Savard ring one off the post, the game went to a shoot-out - which is often the Bruins nemesis, having gathered 5 losses in 6 attempts in shootout situations.

Finally, it was Chris Drury who sealed the Bruins fate, beating (a visibly frustrated) Tim Thomas in the one-on-one showdown.

The B's should probably feel pretty good about gaining at least a point against the Blue Shirts, but obviously, giving up the lead could suggest larger problems. If it were not for the team's overall effort against the Rangers, and their hard play this season, this breakdown could perhaps be seen as an ominous portent of a slide. But there's something resilient about this team, and for the first time in many seasons, the players, coaches and management all seem to be pulling in the same direction, even in losses.

The Bruins are going to lose some games, but if they can do so while still playing well, and continue to win more games than they lose, then I believe the club to still be in solid running for a hard-found Eastern playoff birth. Which, at this point in the Bruins team-development, is still the aim each year.

The Bruins are back on the ice on Monday evening, against the Maple Leafs.