NEW YORK -- The Boston Bruins are on the brink of the Eastern Conference finals, and they got there on the backs of their suddenly offensive defencemen and a potent fourth line of forwards. They have outclassed the New York Rangers all over the ice in surging to a 3-0 lead in a series that could be over Thursday. If the Bruins start firing on all cylinders, the Rangers will have little hope of even forcing a Game 5 let alone entertaining thoughts of matching the greatest comeback in sports. The Bruins could afford to relax Wednesday, and many of them did, as the team held an optional practice at Madison Square Garden -- the site of Bostons 2-1 comeback win a night earlier that pushed the Rangers within one loss of elimination. New York also got back on the ice at its suburban practice facility, and it was clear the sting of Tuesday nights disheartening defeat lingered. The Rangers are just over one week removed from back-to-back shutouts by Henrik Lundqvist in Games 6 and 7 against the Washington Capitals in the first round, but those good times feel a whole lot longer ago now. Any kind of comeback now starts with Game 4 in New York. Three teams have recovered from an 0-3 hole to win an NHL series. "Were not looking at odds or anything like that," Rangers captain Ryan Callahan said. "Were looking at one game at home, and well try to bring this thing back to Boston. Thats the only way we can look at it, to try to win one game in our building." The Bruins want to cut this short and not give the Rangers any reason to believe. New York trailed Washington 2-0 in the opening round and then 3-2 before advancing. There is history hanging over Boston, including a blown 3-0 lead to Philadelphia in a series loss in 2010 and a squandered 3-1 edge in this years first round to Toronto before the Bruins rallied to win Game 7. "You learn from the past, but you live in the moment. You dont live in the past," Bruins coach Claude Julien said. "I like where our team is right now. Were certainly not looking at it the way other people will look at it -- trying to find reasons to give New York some hope, saying These guys have done this, these guys have had trouble doing this. "Were certainly not even going there." Rangers forwards Darroll Powe and Arron Asham were on that Philadelphia team that stunned the Bruins with an epic comeback in 2010. While several players said Wednesday they believe this series can still be won, the mantra was the same as it has been all season -- following the words of coach John Tortorella that the focus must be completely on the next game. "Obviously, we cant win four games (Thursday) night. We have to focus on just the task at hand, which is coming out strong on our first shift," said Powe, who is currently sidelined by injury. "We go shift by shift, we just chip away. Youve got to try to win every shift. Thats how were going to get back in the series." The Rangers had been 3-0 at home in the playoffs and had won nine straight at Madison Square Garden, dating to the regular season. Tuesdays loss was their first in regulation in which they led going into the third period since February 2010. A fluke goal with 3:31 remaining by fourth-liner Daniel Paille, who put in a puck Lundqvist never saw, made the disappointment that much greater. Boston defenceman Johnny Boychuk scored his fourth goal of the post-season earlier in the third with a shot that might have clipped forward Shawn Thornton -- Pailles bruising linemate along with Gregory Campbell. That was enough to give the Bruins their second one-goal win of the series. Paille had a goal and assist in Game 3 for his first points of the series. Thornton assisted on both goals, to get himself on the score sheet for the first time against the Rangers, and Campbell had an assist on the game-winner to go along with a goal he scored in Game 2. "Hopefully it keeps going," Thornton said of the production from the line that was put together during the 2010-11 season. "Were trying to get back out there so weve got to give it everything we have. I have said it a million times, I am very fortunate to play with those two guys. They are extremely good hockey players and they would probably be on better lines than the fourth line on other teams." The Rangers would be happy to get offence from anywhere. After busting out in a 5-0 win in Game 7 against the Capitals, New York has been held to five total goals in three games against goalie Tuukka Rask and the rest of the Bruins. New York seemed to lack the required energy and urgency to take advantage in Game 4. The Rangers have also failed to capitalize on an injured Boston defence that is using three rookies with success. "I like our team," Rangers coach John Tortorella said. "Weve got good people. We need to have more people playing more minutes, consistently. Well be ready to play. I hope we get to another level of desperation. Thats not just running around all over the place, its about winning those battles at key times." While injured Bruins defencemen Dennis Seidenberg and Wade Redden continue to practice and move closer to returning, the Rangers are dealing with the loss of defenceman Anton Stralman, who got hurt when he was checked hard Tuesday night by Milan Lucic and left the game in the second period. His status for Game 4 is questionable at best. If he sits out, the Rangers could turn to Roman Hamrlik or Matt Gilroy. Marc Staal doesnt appear ready to play because of an eye injury. 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TORONTO -- On Tuesday, Aaron Ekblad went home to Florida.After becoming a surprise scratch in Monday nights loss to Team Russia, the most important defenseman on Team North America in the World Cup of Hockey watched his teammates lose from a press box suite while wearing a suit and tie.He and North America management were following league protocol after Ekblad experienced concussion-like symptoms following a big hit from Finlands Leo Komarov in Ekblads first game of the tournament.But in terms of making the tough call between playing through pain in a best-on-best tournament and preserving yourself for the long grind of a regular season, there is no real protocol.There are judgment calls, conversations and, right now, lots of NHL general managers just hoping it ends.If youre a fan of the game, you love to watch the excitement, and its a beautiful game to watch, said one Western Conference general manager. But when you look at whats the benefit to the [NHL] team? Its zero.For a team like Ekblads Panthers, its now gone into the negative. The Dallas Stars can feel their pain. Stars captain Jamie Benn of Team Canada pulled out of the tournament to heal from surgery, and theyve now suffered two injuries in Canadas Tyler Seguin (foot) and the Czech Republics Radek Faksa (concussion symptoms).Ales Hemsky of the Czech Republic, one of the last healthy Stars left, had better watch out.How the communication between the club team and international team went down has varied depending on the situation. Stars GM Jim Nill got word after Canadas first exhibition game against the U.S. that Seguin was banged up.He sent Seguin a text, and the response from his star center assured him he was fine. After he played another exhibition game, the tone of the texts changed.Seguin was hurting.A conference call was set up with Nill, Seguin, doctors and Team Canada GM Doug Armstrong, and the group hashed out a solution. Maybe Seguin could power through the injury, but with center Ryan OReilly ready to step in, it wasnt necessary.The decision was made to send Seguin home. There might have been relief for the Stars that Benn and Seguin were out of harms way and should be ready to go to start the season, but they also felt for a guy who all summer had been looking forward to representing his country.I talked to Tyler the night before he went to the camp in Ottawa, how excited he was in playing for Canada, Stars coach Lindy Ruff said Tuesday. I dont think any of them think of injury before they go. They just think of playing.And when they get hurt, theyy think of playing through it.dddddddddddd Thats what makes these guys the best in the world.So its important that NHL clubs have a say in the decision, especially considering how hard it can be for the player to take a big-picture approach when opportunities like this dont present themselves very often.For a player such as Faksa, this is one of the first opportunities to play for his country on a big stage.Radek, hes a young guy representing his country. Hes 21. It tugs at them, Nill said. Its hard. Its tough. Its tough for them to go, Hey, I cant go anymore, to their teammates there and their country.Ultimately, the team has a say, and the Panthers certainly didnt hide their desire to bring Ekblad home, nor should they have. Hes their franchise defenseman. They have Stanley Cup hopes this season.Its not like Ekblad grew up dreaming of wearing the Team North America orange and black. So this was the no-brainer.It makes the North Americans job a little harder as they face Sweden on Wednesday needing a win to survive. The team is also without goalie Matt Murray, who is out with a hand injury. Ekblad was their big-minute defenseman, taking on the toughest competition for coach Todd McLellan.Fellow defenseman Ryan Murray left practice early in what McLellan called a maintenance day, saying he expects Murray to be available for the Sweden game. If not, that would leave North America with five defensemen, which would be an issue.Yeah, defenseman Jacob Trouba deadpanned. You usually want six.If they get to six, the young group remains confident they have a defense capable of advancing in this tournament. The coaches and general managers of the emerging NHL stars might not exactly be broken hearted if they dont.The World Cup has seen big names go down and its just getting out of group play. Multiple general managers said they were taken aback at just how intense and physical the opening exhibition game was between the United States and Canada. It was clear then the players cared about this tournament in a big way. When thats the case, injuries are going to follow. Its inevitable.Those watching from the outside, waiting for it to end just hope it doesnt strike their key players as the games get even more intense once the World Cup shifts to the semifinalsYou just look at the history of these tournaments, one team is going to get significantly hurt, said one GM. Youre holding your breath its not you. ' ' '