Final, Bruins 3-2:Â And that’s how it happens. It just kind of happens.
Brad Marchand wins it, and the Bruins are one game from the Stanley Cup Final.
Second period, 14:09, 1-1: Sorry for the lack of updates. There are no TV timeouts in overtime.
The Penguins just had a great chance to win, but Craig Adams appeared to hit the post just to Tuukka Rask’s right. It sure sounded like it rang iron at least.
Rask continues to dazzle. He’s up to 52 saves.
Tomas Vokoun has been terrific in overtime, too. He stopped arguably the Bruins’ best chance of the second overtime when he stopped Jaromir Jagr after the old man took the pass from Tyler Seguin but couldn’t get enough lift on the puck.
Second overtime, 5:59, 1-1:Â The Bruins killed off the penalty.
Second overtime, 3:47, 1-1:Â Another bench minor for the Bruins, and another power play for the Penguins.
The B’s were caught with too many men on the ice.
Second overtime, 1:33, 1-1:Â The Evgeni Malkin penalty has expired. The Pittsburgh forward had a scoring chance after getting out of the box and just narrowly missed the net.
Second overtime, 0:01, 1-1:Â The second overtime is underway.
End first overtime, 1-1:Â That’s the end of the first overtime. The Bruins will have 23 seconds of power play time remaining when the second overtime begins.
Overtime, 18:23, 1-1:Â Evgeni Malkin, at the end of a long shift and an icing, just flipped the puck over the glass.
The Bruins are going back on the power play.
Overtime, 13:57, 1-1:Â The Bruins weren’t able to score on their power play. We play on.
Overtime, 11:26, 1-1:Â Now the Bruins get a power play.
Brooks Orpik was just called for high-sticking.
Overtime, 11:19, 1-1:Â The Bruins killed off the penalty.
Overtime, 8:17, 1-1:Â The Bruins have to kill off a penalty now.
Chris Kelly was just called for tripping.
That came about a minute after Nathan Horton rang the post with a shot that would have obviously been the game-winner.
Overtime, 3:13, 1-1:Â The penalties are over, and so, too, is 4-on-4 play.
Overtime, 2:21, 1-1:Â Tomas Vokoun just made the save of his life.
He stopped Nathan Horton on a breakaway to keep this game alive.
Overtime, 1:03, 1-1:Â Milan Lucic and Matt Cooke just got matching roughing minors. We’re at 4-on-4 for two minutes.
Overtime, 0:01, 1-1:Â Overtime is underway. Next goal wins.
Third intermission:Â The Bruins have announced that Gregory Campbell will not return in this one. That’s not much of a surprise, given how painful his injury looked. That’s a huge blow for the B’s, especially if Pittsburgh finds itself on the power play at all in overtime.
End third period, 1-1:Â The Penguins turned it up a notch in the final moments, but the Bruins withstood the charge. That means we’re going to overtime.
That was a rough period for the Bruins, who were outshot 13-4 in the frame.
Third  period, 16:50, 1-1: Tuukka Rask has been simply fantastic so far.
He just gloved an easy wrist shot on what may have been his easiest stop of the night, but until this point, he’s been on-point. He’s stopped Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang at different points in this game, and he has 33 saves right now.
Unfortunately for the Bruins, it looks like Tomas Vokoun has settled in very nicely after a lot of uncertainty. It basically comes down to who’s gonna blink first.
Third period, 16:00, 1-1:Â Once again, nothing on the power play for the Bruins. Once again, it was an ugly power play with very little puck possession and some very sloppy entries.
Third period, 12:24, 1-1: The Bruins were  not able to get anything on the power play, and then we just  went a few minutes without a whistle.
The whistle came thanks to a penalty call on the Penguins (Pascal Dupuis for interference), which means the B’s will get another crack on the man-advantage. Quite frankly, it can’t go any worse than the last power play. The B’s were awful on the man-advantage, as they couldn’t even gain entry into the Pittsburgh zone.
Improving that on this power play would be a good idea.
Third period, 6:27, 1-1:Â The Bruins are now going back on the power play.
Tyler Seguin did a great job of working the puck through the neutral one against James Neal, winning the puck battle and allowing the B’s to get offensive possession in the Pittsburgh one.
That set the stage for a Matt Niskanen slashing penalty.
Third period, 1:05, 1-1:Â The Bruins’ power play just came to an unsuccessful end.
Third period, 0:01, 1-1:Â The third period is underway, and the Bruins have 42 seconds of power play time to go.
Gregory Campbell is not back from the dressing room.
Second period reaction:Â This is the best we’ve seen the Penguins all series, and it’s not surprising they’re right in this one, tied 1-1 through two periods.
The Penguins continue to do a good job of possessing the puck, which is obviously making it difficult for the Bruins to get much going. The Pens have won 28 of 40 faceoffs, good for 70 percent. When was the last time the Bruins lost 70 percent of faceoffs?
Pittsburgh has seen four power plays so far, but the Penguins have yet to find the back of the net. The Bruins’ penalty kill has been fantastic, and it has been gutsy. Gregory Campbell blocked an Evgeni Malkin shot that left Campbell in a world of pain. However, he somehow finished the shift or at least the 20 seconds or so it took the B’s to eventually clear the zone. Toward the end of that possession, Bruins fans started chanting “Campbell! Campbell!” and gave him a thunderous ovation as he skated off. He’s yet to return to the lineup, though, so the Bruins may be down a forward the rest of the way.
The Bruins are getting chances, and if they start winning some faceoffs, they’re going to get more chances. Tomas Vokoun has been better, Â but he’s still leaking rebounds. The chances are there for the Bruins, no doubt.
End second period, 1-1:Â The second period just came to an end with some good pressure on the power play.
Tomas Vokoun made another big save, as he just kicked away a Zdeno Chara blast from the point with a pad save that keeps the game tied 1-1 through 40 minutes.
Second period, 18:41, 1-1:Â It only took 38:41, but the Bruins have their first power play of the game.
Jarome Iginla was called for tripping, and the B’s go up a man.
Second period, 16:24, 1-1:Â After the Bruins put a barrage of shots on net, the Penguins just responded in kind of sorts.
Evgeni Malkin got loose on a breakaway, and he got a shot off on Tuukka Rask, but the goalie made a pad save, and Zdeno Chara was there to clear away the rebound.
Second period, 14:54, 1-1:Â The Bruins killed off the Boston penalty, but it might have come at a price.
Gregory Campbell had about as gutsy of a shift as you can have on the PK. After blocking an Evgeni Malkin shot in the Boston zone, Campbell was clearly hurt. He could barely skate. But he somehow finished the shift, which had the crowd chanting his name by the end of the play.
The B’s certainly got a lift out of that, and they are coming right now.
Second period, 10:50, 1-1:Â The Bruins are starting to play with fire.
The Penguins are going back on the power play after the Bruins were just called for too many men on the ice. Making matters even worse, the penalty came as the Bruins had the puck in the Pittsburgh end. That’s just a bad penalty that the B’s can’t afford to take right now with the Penguins surging.
Second period, 11:09, 1-1:Â The Penguins, until the last couple of minutes, had brought it here in the second period. They finally broke through.
Chris Kunitz just roofed a one-timer over Tuukka Rask’s glove hand to tie the game 1-1. That’s obviously a big goal. Duh.
Second period, 8:44, Bruins 1-0:Â The Bruins’ penalty kill, through two and a half games, has been simply fantastic.
They’re at it again in this one, having killed off three (pretty darn good) power plays from the Penguins. The most recent may have been Pittsburgh’s best of the series, but the B’s were able to get just enough clears and a couple of timely saves from Tuukka Rask to ensure Pittsburgh remains 0-for-the-series.
The Bruins and the crowd have certainly got a boost out of the kill. The B’s are flying all over the place, and the building is getting louder and louder as the period goes on.
Second period, 4:26, Bruins 1-0:Â Moments after a solid Pittsburgh power play comes to an end without a goal, the Penguins get another man-advantage.
Adam McQuaid was called for boarding, and he gets two in the box.
Second period, 1:44, Bruins 1-0:Â The Penguins are going back on the power play early in the second period.
David Krejci was just called for roughing, and Pittsburgh gets its second power play of the game.
Second period, 0:01, Bruins 1-0:Â The second period is underway.
First period reaction:Â That was probably the Penguins’ best period of the series (the first period of Game 1 is up there, too), but they’re still trailing 1-0 through 20 minutes.
The biggest difference, through my eyes, is that the Penguins have finally figured out that trying to hit the Bruins at every possible chance isn’t going to get the job done. The Pens registered just three hits in the first period. They’ve certainly possessed the puck more here in this period than at any time in Game 2. They have the 10 shots on goal out of an attempted 20 (Boston has seven blocked shots) as well, and they have won 14 of 22 faceoffs. Â That all seems to indicate they’re doing more with the puck more often.
Had it not been for one soft goal let in by Tomas Vokoun, the Penguins would definitely like where they’re at right now. Heck, they may still like it anyway.
On the other side, the Bruins certainly haven’t lacked jump. They’re taking the body, they’re not shying away from anything or anyone, and they’ve played sound defensive hockey. It’s been a pretty Bruins-like effort in that way. David Krejci continues to just light the world on fire, and that’s the difference in this one so far.
End first period, Bruins 1-0:Â The Pittsburgh power play looked competent, which is a step in the right direction, but they couldn’t break through. The Bruins did a great job of getting sticks in lanes, and that disrupted the Pens just enough.
The first period came to an end without much of anything else. The two teams are tied 10-10 in shots.
First period, 15:34, Bruins 1-0:Â OK, so now the Penguins are getting their first power play.
Nathan Horton was just called for holding, and he’ll get two minutes.
First period, 14:30, Bruins 1-0:Â Tomas Vokoun, despite giving up a soft goal on the Bruins’ first shot of the game, has rebounded nicely.
He’s still giving up some big rebounds, but he’s made a couple of nice pad saves here as the first period winds down. The best came when Tyler Seguin put a shot on net from the right wing, but Vokoun kicked it away and out of trouble.
The Penguins, aside from being down 1-0, have to like where they’re at right now. They’re playing much better than in Game 2, and they’ve put eight shots on goal here in the first period.
First period, 11:05, Bruins 1-0:Â Tuukka Rask has been good early on, and that’s why it’s still a one-goal game.
He just made a glove save on Evgeni Malkin — no small task — as the Pittsburgh sniper came in down the right side of the slot.
First period, 10:00, Bruins 1-0:Â Check that. Pittsburgh’s Joe Vitale got a roughing penalty in a scrum after the whistle on the Boychuk penalty, so we’re 4-on-4. Awful penalty to take.
First period, 9:31, Bruins 1-0: The  Penguins will get the game’s first power play.
Johnny Boychuk just hit Brenden Morrow at the Pittsburgh blue line. The problem was, however, is that Morrow wasn’t really near the puck. Boychuk got two for interference.
First period, 7:11, Bruins 1-0:Â The Bruins have come to play so far, and the Penguins … meh.
The B’s look to have that jump they had in Games 1 and 2 yet again, as they’re all over the ice. The B’s are getting in on the forecheck pretty well thus far, and that was most evident as Milan Lucic took the body to Kris Letang in the corner to slow any potential breakout.
The B’s are a good bounce from being up by two, as well. Brad Marchand had a potential scoring chance deflected just over the net, and a few minutes later a weird carom off the end boards went straight to the slot, but there was no B there to do anything with it.
First period, 1:42, Bruins 1-0:Â This place is rocking like it hasn’t all year save for maybe Game 7 against Toronto.
David Krejci continues his insane playoff run with yet another goal, this one another softy through the pads of Tomas Vokoun. The puck might have deflected off of a Pittsburgh defenseman, but Vokoun has to have that.
First period, 0:19, 0-0:Â We’re underway in Game 3, and we’ve got pushing, shoving and a lot of swearing after the first whistle.
8:05 p.m.:Â The Bruins will start with the fourth line.
7:42 p.m.:Â The Penguins are making some more changes, it appears.
According to pregame skate, it looks like Jussi Jokinen is out. He’s not on the ice for the skate. It appears that Tyler Kennedy will replace him. It also looks like Matt Cooke will be skating on a line with Evgeni Malkin and James Neal, which would, in theory, bump Jarome Iginla to the third line.
It also looks like Beau Bennett will be in the lineup.
Here are their apparent lines from warmups.
Pascal Dupuis — Sidney Crosby — Chris Kunit
Matt Cooke — Evgeni Malkin — James Neal
Beau Bennett — Brandon Sutter — Jarome Iginla
Brenden Morrow — Joe Vitale — Craig Adams
7:34 p.m.:Â The two teams have taken the ice for the pregame twirl.
There were reports that Paul Martin wouldn’t be in the Pittsburgh lineup, but he is out there for the pregame skate. So, too, are Jarome Iginla and Evgeni Malkin, after missing morning skate.
6:55 p.m:Â Well, I’ve got a full belly of food, so I’m ready to go. We’re still about an hour, hour and a half away from getting started here at TD Garden.
It would certainly be tough to forget this is where the Eastern Conference finals are being played. There are reminders all over the building, of course, and that includes in the elevators and everything.
Also, this is what greeted everyone as they got off the elevator on the main floor (at ice level where the dressing rooms, interview room, media dining, etc. are located).
5:50 p.m.: The Bruins have found success both at home and on the road this postseason, but they’re on a little bit of a roll at TD Garden right now.
The B’s have won four straight dating back to the first round in Game 7, where their historic comeback started their recent home winning streak. That came after they actually lost a pair of home games in that series, including the Game 5 that served as the team’s first chance to wrap up that series.
In their four-game home winning streak, the Bruins have outscored their opponents 16-9.
The Penguins, meanwhile, come in with a pedestrian road record, although solid enough for the playoffs. Pittsburgh is 3-2 away from CONSOL Energy Center. The Penguins were very good on the road in the regular season, however, going 18-6 on the road.
4:40 p.m.:Â Claude Julien had some interesting things to say at morning skate about what he’s expecting from the Penguins. At this point, the Pens have no chance if they don’t make some changes. That goes without saying probably, but when you get run out of your home rink, something needs to change.
Julien and the Bruins are expecting that, but Julien also insisted it’s important the B’s stick to their game plan and not overreact to what Pittsburgh does in terms of adjustments.
“I think we have to continue to play our game, but we should expect some changes here and there,” Julien said. “If those things happen, I think we’ll be ready for it. I said that all along in the playoffs. We really have to focus, we want to focus on our game, because I think that’s where all the focus has to be. That’s where players’ focus needs to be. As far as coaches are concerned, we have to be ready for adjustments, and if there is some, we’ve got to be ready to tell our players.”
4:30 p.m.:Â It will be interesting to see if the Penguins do anything in terms of switching up their lines for Game 3. We didn’t get too much insight into that from morning skate, however. Both Jarome Iginla and Evgeni Malkin were absent from the skate, so it’s tough to go off of the line combinations. For what it’s worth, though, this is what the Penguins skated with this morning, via Shelly Anderson of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Chris Kunitz — Sidney Crosby — Pascal Dupuis
Matt Cooke — Brandon Sutter — James Neal
Brenden Morrow — Jussi Jokinen — Craig Adams
Tanner Glass — Joe Vitale — Tyler Kennedy
Again, that’s probably worth nothing, but the more you know, right?
2:30 p.m.:Â The Bruins, according to their morning skate line rushes, are going with the same lineup in Game 3. That makes sense, you know, given the fact they dominated Game 2.
But, for those who aren’t paying close attention and really wanna know what the Bruins will do with their lines, you are in luck.
Here are the Bruins’ forward lines and defensive pairings.
Milan Lucic — David Krejci — Nathan Horton
Brad Marchand — Patrice Bergeron –Jaromir Jagr
Rich Peverley — Chris Kelly — Tyler Seguin
Daniel Paille — Gregory Campbell — Shawn Thornton
Zdeno Chara — Dennis Seidenberg
Johnny Boychuk — Andrew Ference
Torey Krug — Adam McQuaid
2 p.m.:Â Well, we now know the answer to the Penguins’ goaltending question. Tomas Vokoun was the first goalie off the ice for morning skate, and both he and head coach Dan Bylsma confirmed the goalie would be back in there for Game 3.
Vokoun started the other two games of the series, but there were some who thought Marc-Andre Fleury would get the start after he replaced Vokoun in Game 2. Vokoun allowed three first-period goals and was lifted late in the first. Fleury went on to give up three goals, including one on the first shot he faced upon entering the game.
“Looking for a solid game from our goaltender,” Bylsma told reporters after morning skate. “We’ve gotten that from Tomas in virtually every game he’s played, a real solid performance, and he’s done that for us, and that’s what we need tonight. We don’t need perfection. We’re looking for a solid game in between the pipes and from our goaltender to allow our team to win the hockey game.”
8 a.m. ET: The Bruins are two games away from reaching the Stanley Cup Final, and they have yet to touch the TD Garden ice in the Eastern Conference finals. They’ll get their chance to do that Wednesday night in an attempt to take an absolute stranglehold in their series with the Penguins.
After winning Games 1 and 2 in convincing fashion, the Bruins are heading home to take on the East’s No. 1 seed in front of what’s sure to be a fired-up Garden crowd. The Bruins won the series’ first two games by a combined score of 9-1, and they’re coming off of a 6-1 dump-trucking in Game 2.
Things got so ugly in Game 2 that Penguins coach Dan Bylsma was forced to lift starting goalie Tomas Vokoun in favor of Marc-Andre Fleury. The Pittsburgh boss wasn’t willing to say who would be between the pipes for Game 3, but he did say Tuesday that he had already made his decision. Fleury was benched during the first round against the Islanders, but for the first time this postseason, Vokoun has shown signs of weakness as well.
Meanwhile, the Bruins are firing on all cylinders right now. All four lines are contributing, the defense corps is healthy and contributing, and goalie Tuukka Rask is in a zone right now.
Despite how well everything is going, though, the B’s are still expecting the Penguins to be better going forward. Pittsburgh certainly has more talent than the team has shown thus far, and that’s going to come through at some point. If it doesn’t show itself in Game 3, however, this series may be just about over — if it’s not already.
Puck drop from TD Garden in Game 3 is slated for just after 8 p.m.
