Brian Boyle unhappy with his play
Brian Boyle skates against the Washington Capitals during Game Two of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. (April 30, 2012) Credit: Jim McIsaac
WASHINGTON -- Brian Boyle wasn't pleased with his return.
"I stunk," said Boyle, who played Monday for the first time after sitting out three playoff games with a concussion from a hit by Ottawa's Chris Neil.
"I didn't really do anything and then I was a pretty big reason they scored their third goal," Boyle said Tuesday before the Rangers boarded a charter train from Penn Station.
The 6-7 center, who scored three goals against the Senators, played 15:20 and lost a defensive-zone faceoff to Nicklas Backstrom, who drew it back to Alex Ovechkin and was tied up as Ovechkin fired his game-winner. He also was whistled for holding the stick earlier in the period, the first of two consecutive Rangers penalties.
"I'm not going to accept it [his performance]," he said. "I know the coaches won't, either. I have to do better. I know I can and that was not the way I wanted to play. I'm determined to do more. I'm going to try to do more. I'm not going to make excuses."
Girardi time down
Dan Girardi still leads the league in time on ice during the playoffs at 26:51 per game. But that distinction might not last. The All-Star defenseman played 20:35 in Game 2 and Ryan McDonagh, Marc Staal and Michael Del Zotto played 25-plus.
Coach John Tortorella has matched Girardi and McDonagh against teams' top lines, and Alex Ovechkin played just 13 minutes. "I think that's a good explanation," Girardi said. "He didn't play a lot. That's the matchup we're trying to get."
But Tortorella disagreed: "No, it's just where the game was. When you're trailing, trying to get back into it offensively, you use other guys in certain situations."
Dubinsky uncertain
Brandon Dubinsky, who was hobbling on crutches Sunday, is likely out for Game 3. It was unclear early Tuesday night whether he made the trip.
