Business picks up a bit for your Sunday pleasure with a pair of Eastern Conference games taking the stage. You can get locked into all your playoff action starting this afternoon and roll through the evening.
Please keep in mind that both games can be watched online in addition to the channels listed below.
Game 2: Boston Bruins host the New York Rangers -- (3 p.m. ET, NBC)
Boston leads series 1-0
Game 1 of this series seemed to be a bit too familiar for the Rangers. They were outshot badly, they didn’t score nearly enough goals, and Henrik Lundqvist had to stand on his head for the team to have a chance before eventually losing in overtime. If there’s anything the Rangers want to avoid it’s overtime.
New York is 0-3 in overtime games this year and Lundqvist has a 3-11 playoff OT record himself. That means it’s up to the erratic Rangers offense to find a way to beat the Bruins’ defense. With half their starters injured in Game 1, the Bruins held strong defensively. Now they’re looking at Wade Redden possibly returning to action today and Dennis Seidenberg is skating again.
These are all bad news for New York who could really use a big game (or two, or three) from Brad Richards and Rick Nash. It’s too bad Carl Hagelin supposedly “stinks” on the power play, the Rangers could use a boost there as they’re just 2-31 on the man advantage in the playoffs.
Game 3: Ottawa Senators host the Pittsburgh Penguins -- (7:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN)
Pittsburgh leads series 2-0
It’s tough not to focus on Jason Spezza’s return to the lineup for Ottawa in this game. Pittsburgh’s been so incredibly efficient against Ottawa, including chasing Craig Anderson in Game 2, that it’s almost not dramatic. Enter Spezza into the mix to provide some kind of spark and the Senators could use it.
While guys like Kyle Turris and Zach Smith have played strong to this point in the postseason, Spezza is on another level both offensively and defensively. While the Sens could use the goals, it’s the latter part of that they could really use a lift in when it comes to defending against Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby.
Malkin ate Ottawa up in Game 1 while Crosby was the man in Game 2 netting a hat trick. Trying to control those two is like herding rabid feral cats. No pressure though Spezza, your team just needs you to be the difference maker into turning this series around. Dropping Game 3 could mean this fun run by the Sens may end by Wednesday night.