Three rookies start on B's defense

Seems like a break for the Rangers to open the series.

Bruins coach Claude Julien said it  "doesn't look good" for defensemen Wade Redden, Andrew Ference and Dennis Seidenberg, who didn't skate today.

Two rookies: Matt Bartkowski (2 playoff games) and Torey Krug (none) are stepping in. Dougie Hamilton has been playing.

And C Brad Marchand left the skate at TD Garden early, bent over, we suspect he may have pulled something, but Julien said: "He'll be fine, he'll be there tonight." 

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Julien on the series: "I think it's not getting a feeling out period and just going there and playing your game. I know we're both gritty teams. We'll go and grind it out...The team that wins this series is the team that's going to want to battle it out more than the other, be grittier and get their noses dirtier than the other team."

From Rangers D John Moore: "It's going to be a man's game this whole series."

Henrik Lundqvist: Bruins are aggressive team "around the nets, the blue ice. It's going to be interesting to see how we can respond. I'm ready for anything."

Same lineup for the Blueshirts.

Live chat coming up, more later....