BOSTON (CBS) – The only thing worse than finding a ticket on your windshield after a long commute home, is finding a ticket when you know you’ve paid for your parking. “I think it’s horrible,” said Kim McLeod who commutes from Wilmington to Boston. “This is near extortion,” said Rick Marra whose wife commutes from Ashland to Boston.

We are talking about cash payment systems used at many of the commuter rail parking lots around the state. Drivers place four dollars in cash in a slot that corresponds with their parking space. The question is, does this system work?

The I-Team spoke with 16 commuters who all say they have been repeatedly ticketed even though they are sure they paid the money. They are also sure they placed the money in the correct slot. Garret Diggins commutes every day from Grafton to State Street Bank. He said he’s had little trouble for years, but that changed recently. “Over the last month, I’ve gotten three tickets,” he said.

Rick Marra told us he can’t understand why his wife keeps getting fined. “You know once, OK, fine… three or four times, no something’s going on here,” he said.

The I-Team’s undercover cameras watched as a parking lot attendant in Wilmington emptied the boxes of cash. Per MBTA policy, the attendant first takes a photo of what’s inside. Our video shows the attendant moving the cash around with a wire in an apparent effort to get a better view of what is in each of the individual boxes. “I don’t even know how that can be accurate,” Marra said.

The I-Team obtained a sample of what that photo looks like. Marra called it a flawed system. “I use $2 bills,” he said. “How can they be sure that it’s four dollars in the picture.”

In a statement, the MBTA told the I-Team,

The “honor box” system is by no means perfect, and that’s why the MBTA offers other, more convenient options for paying parking fees. Thousands of customers skip the honor boxes by using “pay by phone” or monthly passes, and the T encourages more people to try these easy methods.

“I actually have a friend who does that, uses the app on her iPhone, and they screwed that up too,” McLeod told us.

These commuters feel like they are victimized over and over again when you factor in additional fines and surcharges. If you fail to pay the ticket it is a $1 surcharge. If you don’t get it in the mail within three days, it’s another $20. Paying online is quicker and easier, but that costs $3.50. You can appeal, but the ticket says if you lose, you risk another $20 dollar fine. “A lot of people elect not to appeal and just pay the fine and be done with it,” Diggins said.

The statement from the MBTA addressed that as well.

The MBTA understands that some people are not pleased with the new penalty structure, but it’s absolutely necessary because the previous system did not serve as a deterrent to scofflaws. The previous structure was costing the MBTA thousands of dollars a month because many people simply ignored “failure to pay” notices.

Kim McLeod says she started taking photos of herself to have some sort of proof that she paid. “You pay enough to commute into Boston between the MBTA and the commuter rail and the parking and then you end up paying double. It’s ridiculous,” she said.

The MBTA says only a fraction of commuters have complained about the system. They have, however, recently eliminated the $20 fee for lost appeals. Tickets should reflect that change soon.

During a pretrial hearing Wednesday, attorney Hank Brennan said providing the informant’s name is critical to determining the credibility of John Martorano, an ex-hitman, and Kevin Weeks, Bulger’s former top lieutenant. Both are set to testify against Bulger during his trial for allegedly participating in 19 murders, which begins next month.

The defense claims in court papers that the informant, who was referenced in an FBI report from 2000, said Weeks and Martorano assured certain people they wouldn’t implicate them when they talked to law enforcement.

It’s a tactic the government has allowed its witnesses to use in the past, Brennan told U.S. District Judge Denise Casper on Wednesday, citing a 1965 murder for which four men were imprisoned after being wrongly accused by a mobster the FBI knew was lying in order to shield friends.

In remarks outside court, Brennan said the defense wanted to find out if that was happening again.

“There is no stronger motivation to lie, for somebody, than to protect themselves and protect their friends,” he said.

But prosecutors told Casper that the informant was just passing on chatter, not firsthand information.

“What we’re opposed to is exposing an informant who simply reports street talk,” said prosecutor Brian Kelly.

Casper didn’t rule on the issue Wednesday.

After court, Tommy Donahue whose father was allegedly shot to death by Bulger in 1982, said he was disgusted by the “sweet deal” the government gave Martorano and Weeks in exchange for testimony. But he said he didn’t think Bulger was being falsely accused by government witnesses.

“That old man that you see in there is an absolute animal, he’s a demon in disguise,” he said. “His heart, he’s soulless. And everything he’s accused of, he’s done.”

Bulger, who is allegedly a former FBI informant, fled in 1995 after being tipped about a coming indictment from his FBI handler. He was captured in California in 2011.

In court Wednesday, Bulger was clean shaven and wore glasses and a white long-sleeved T-shirt under his orange prison jumpsuit. He didn’t speak except to answer, “Good afternoon,” when Casper greeted him, and he was led to and from the courtroom with his hands cuffed behind his back.

Jury selection, from a pool starting at 675, is scheduled to start June 4 and the trial is expected to last three months. Prosecutors said Wednesday that their witness list has grown to near 70 and they expect to present 900 to 1,000 exhibits.

Prosecutors want potential jurors to undergo criminal background checks, which Brennan argued was unusual and offensive.

“A citizen’s word when they come before the court should be enough,” he told Casper.

But prosecutor Zachary Hafer said the checks were a needed step to ensure jurors were legally eligible to serve and to avoid problems that could eventually threaten the integrity of the trial.

“It’s doubly important we get it right the first time,” he said.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.

ORLANDO, Fla. (CBS) — An FBI agent shot and killed a man after he implicated himself and the Boston Marathon bombings suspect, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, in an unsolved 2011 Waltham triple murder.

CBS News correspondent John Miller, a former FBI assistant director, says Ibrahim Todashev was “someone (the agency was) looking at in connection with Tamerlan (Tsarnaev), based on contacts they had.”

WBZ NewsRadio 1030′s Mark Katic reports

Investigators were looking into what information Todashev may have had about an unsolved triple murder in Waltham. According to CBS News, the preliminary details are that after Todashev implicated himself and Tsarnaev, he became angered when authorities pressed him for a full confession. Todashev brandished a knife.

The FBI agent then shot Todashev and received some minor abrasions in the process, sources told CBS News.

The FBI released a statement about the incident:

“The agent along with two Massachusetts State Police troopers and other law enforcement personnel were interviewing an individual in connection with the Boston Marathon bombing investigation when a violent confrontation was initiated by the subject. During the confrontation, the individual was killed and the agent sustained non-life threatening injuries. As this incident is under review, we have no further details at this time.”

On September, 11, 2011, three young men were murdered in a Waltham apartment. Their throats were slashed, and their bodies reportedly sprinkled with marijuana.

As it turns out, one of the victims, Brendan Mess, was friends with Tamerlan Tsarnaev. The three worked out together. Like Tsarnaev, who was once a boxer, Todashev was a mixed-martial-arts fighter.

Jay Morgan, who lived next door to the Waltham murder victims, says he didn’t hear anything the night of the brutal attack.

“The first time I heard about it was the day after when the girlfriend of one of the victims came running out of the house screaming about all of the blood and then shortly thereafter the detectives rang my bell and interviewed me,” said Morgan. “It’s hard to believe that three people were slaughtered next door and the fact that they probably knew who did it because all three people, I read from the interviews, were all trained in martial arts or all worked out.”

Todashev was arrested earlier this month and charged with assault and battery after getting in a fight over a parking space.

WBZ-TV’s Bobby Sisk and Karen Anderson contributed to this report.

In Hour 2 of Felger and Mazz, the guys continued the discuss the Bruins playoff run and the rest of the NHL Playoffs. If the Bruins advance, who would you rather see the B’s play? The Pittsburgh Penguins or Ottawa Senators? How long can the Bruins rely on the play of their young defensemen? Which Bruin has been more frustrating to watch? Jaromir Jagr or Tyler Seguin?

During Hour 3, Felger and Massarotti changed gears for a little bit to talk some New England Patriots. Organized team activities have begun for the Pats. What are some of the stories coming out of O.T.A.’s? The guys also discussed the Boston Red Sox. The Sox have lost their last two games to the Chicago White Sox. Will Middlebrooks has been struggling recently offensive and defensively. Jacoby Ellsbury has been struggling all season. What can the Sox do to wake up their offense? Felger and Mazz brought back up Marc Bertrand’s Hot Sports Take about Doc Rivers. Will Doc confirm that he plans on returning to Boston? Also, Michael Jordan or LeBron James? Who’s better? Finally, is Boston a city that could host a Super Bowl?

In the fourth and final hour, Felger and Mazz go Agenda Free and take calls on all the topics they covered today. If the B’s advance to the Eastern Conference Finals, would they want to face the Penguins? Finally, it’s The Final Word with Marc Bertrand.

We will once again wake up to clouds and fog tomorrow morning but a stronger southerly wind should help mix out the cloud deck so that we at least see a little sunshine during the midday.  Temps will shoot up into the 70s and even close to 80 for some.  Along with the warmth comes the threat for more severe weather…with the greatest threat in Western MA closest to an approaching coldfront.

That front will get hung up over us on Friday and with ample moisture available, periods of heavy downpours will be likely especially in Eastern MA.  Temps will also be cooling off through the 60s as winds turn to the north.

An area of low pressure will develop along the front and slowly ripple north.  Depending on how close the front settles to New England will ultimately dictate how much wet weather will linger over the weekend.  But as of now, Saturday isn’t looking good with periods of rain and very chilly temps in the upper 50s.  The storm will lift north on Sunday and lingering showers should taper off but sun may be tough to find…highs in the mid 60s.  Finally by Monday, the pattern will improve enough to get a good deal of sunshine in here but don’t expect beach weather…highs in the upper 60s max.

Special thanks to Rebecca Wiliams.

Originally broadcast May 20th, 2013.

BOSTON (CBS) — Lt. Gov. Tim Murray has resigned from his post at the State House, effective June 2nd.

Murray said he was not actively searching for employment opportunities when he was approached about the  job as head of Worcester Chamber of Commerce.

Sources tell WBZ-TV’s Karen Anderson that Murray will be making over $200,000 per year.

Calling the decisions an “ending and a beginning,” he said the decision makes sense for him professionally and personally.

“I want to add my congratulations and thanks to Tim for the extraordinary role he has played,” Gov. Deval Patrick said noting his work on issues of homelessness, domestic violence and veterans affairs.

Watch Tim Murray’s Announcement

“Tim Murray is a trusted partner and just a great friend. He was here everyday for the right reasons,” Patrick said.

Murray announced in January that he would not make a run to succeed Deval Patrick as governor.

The Lt. Governor has been the subject of scrutiny for his ties to disgraced Chelsea Housing Authority director Michael McLaughlin. A grand jury is investigating McLaughlin for his role in fundraising for several political candidates, including Lt. Governor Murray.

During a press conference Wednesday afternoon, Murray told WBZ-TV’s Jon Keller the McLaughlin scandal had “nothing to do” with his decision to resign.

“I will take responsibility for whatever mistakes that may have been made,” Murray said in January, “but we try to do things the right way. We always try to do that.”

At issue is whether Murray and his political committee violated state law by accepting campaign contributions raised by McLaughlin.

In a filing late last year with the Attorney General’s office, the Office of Campaign and Political Finance said there was evidence that between 2008 and 2011 McLaughlin and another former housing authority official violated campaign finance laws that prohibit political fundraising by public employees and political fundraising in public buildings.

The WBZ-TV iTeam reported in February that despite not running for governor, Murray was continuing his own political fundraising. He told the iTeam the money could be used for his legal defense fund.

In 2011, Murray was apparently asleep at the wheel, driving more than 100 mph when he crashed his car on I-190 in Sterling.

The car’s data recorder, which captured data 20 seconds before the crash and five seconds after impact, showed Murray’s state-issued vehicle was going in a straight line and he never hit the brakes.

Reaction From State House

The sudden resignation of Lt. Governor Tim Murray had the statehouse buzzing. Many lawmakers say they weren’t surprised since Murray had already announced earlier this year he would no longer be running for governor.

While Murray says his political woes did not influence his decision, some believe he was looking for a graceful exit. “It’s not surprising he wants an exit strategy,” said Republican state senator Robert Hedlund. “He had problems that made it clear he did not have an immediate political future.”

But Murray was looking for a new opportunity and says when the Worcester Chamber of Commerce contacted him back in March, he wanted to make the move rather than risk losing the job.

“He’s not independently wealthy, he obviously needs a job,” said former State Representative Vincent Padrone who served alongside Murray in the House. “This is a real opportunity not just for him personally and his family, but even better for Worcester.”

WBZ-TV’s Beth Germano reports

Murray filled his portfolio, and got high marks, as the Governor’s liaison to local communities, promoting such issues as economic development and transportation. He also made veterans’ affairs a top priority.

“He can use his experience of the last six years to benefit Worcester and businesses,” said State Senator Michael Moore, a Worcester democrat.

As for his political future, State Senator Brian Joyce says don’t count him out since he believes Murray is “talented, popular, and a very likeable person.”

But he leaves as the Attorney General continues to investigate whether he violated campaign finance laws in his relationship with former Chelsea housing director Michael McLaughlin.

“I’m not sure leaving now for a new post wipes the slate clean for the administration. The issues will continue to be discussed and explored,” said Republican House minority leader Brad Jones.

WBZ-TV’s Beth Germano contributed to this report.

“There’s a chance, for sure. But again you don’t want to come back too early, so we’ll see how it feels tomorrow and go from there,” the defenseman said after skating for roughly 40 minutes at Boston’s Wednesday practice.

Seidenberg has been sidelined since Boston’s Game 7 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs last series, leaving the deciding game after just two shifts with a lower body injury.

Read: Leftover Thoughts From Game 3

Head coach Claude Julien said he would wait until Thursday to make any decision on Seidenberg and fellow injured blue-liner Wade Redden, but said they are both progressing nicely to a return.

“Every day they’re better,” said Julien. “I like the direction both those guys are going in right now.”

Seidenberg is a big part to Boston’s defense, but they’ve jumped out to a 3-0 series lead over New York thanks to spectacular play from rookie defensemen Torey Krug and Matt Bartkowski.

While he is enjoying the success of the young blue-liners, Seidenberg wants to get back out there and help his team. He already had to watch his Bruins in the Eastern Conference Semis back in 2010 after suffering a wrist injury, so he’s getting a little antsy to get back on the ice.

“It’s always the same; you don’t like sitting out,” he said. “It’s not fun watching games. I definitely want to be back in there and help.”

Read: Wild Bounce, 4th Line’s Grit Has Boston One Win Away

Should Seidenberg or Redden return, Julien will have a tough decision to make with the rookies playing so well. But it’s only a tough decision because of Boston’s strong depth, something Julien doesn’t mind at all.

“I like those; I’ve always said that,” said Julien. “That means you have some options. When you don’t have decisions to make that’s because you don’t have options.”

Tune in to every Bruins playoff game on 98.5 The Sports Hub — the flagship station of the Boston Bruins! Pregame coverage begins 30 minutes prior to each game.

BROCKTON (CBS) – A young woman was tortured, raped, and shot, but survived to face her alleged attacker in Brockton court Wednesday.

Police say in 2009, Keith Luke went on a violent rampage, bent on killing as many non-whites as possible.

They say he broke into a Brockton house where he knew two young Cape Verdean women lived. One of them was home, so with a gun to her head, he handcuffed her, and raped her. When her sister arrived at the house, Luke allegedly shot her three times, killing her.

Then, he turned his attention back to the handcuffed woman. As he approached, gun in hand, she hugged a giant teddy bear. “I grabbed my teddy bear and he was behind the couch. So he started shooting me.  The first shot was in my head, and I pretended that he killed me.”

Luke shot her five times and then left the house, according to police, thinking she was dead. The stuffed bear actually helped save her life.

Stephen W. Doran, 57, was arraigned Wednesday in West Roxbury District Court following his arrest Tuesday by State Police. Judge Michael Coyne ordered Doran to wear a GPS device and remain on home confinement except for medical appointments if he posts bail.

Doran, a tutor at Match Charter Middle School, allegedly had a package sent to the school on Tuesday. Just after 12:30 that afternoon, police stopped Doran as he left the school in his vehicle and opened the package, recovering two heat sealed bags containing 480 grams of crystalline substance believed to be methamphetamine. As the substance was sent to the school, he was additionally charged with violating the state’s drug laws in a school zone.

Mike Larsson, of Match Charter Middle School, said “We have no knowledge, nor any reason to believe, that any staff, teachers, or students were involved in this matter or were in danger in any way.” Doran had passed a background check with the school prior to his hiring. The school is cooperating completely with the police investigation.

After obtaining a warrant to search Doran’s Dix Street residence, State Police recovered an additional 38 grams of the substance and about $10,000 in cash, a digital scale, and other items consistent with drug distribution. The estimated total street value of the seized drugs was about $50,000. Based on this evidence, Doran will be charged with a second count of methamphetamine trafficking in Dorchester District Court.

Forbes put out their list of “Highest Paid Coaches in U.S. Sports” on Wednesday, and the Patriots head coach is now tied for second, making $7.5 million annually, along with new Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid.

“Belichick is arguably the NFL’s best tactician, evidenced by the fact that the Patriots have won 72.6% of their games and made five trips to the Super Bowl since he took over in 2000. Sean Payton’s new contract brings an end to Belichick’s two-year reign as the highest-paid coach in American sports and his three-year run as highest-paid in the NFL,” the magazine writes.

New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton is now the highest paid coach in sports, with an annual salary of $8 million.

Belichick isn’t the only Boston sports head coach to crack the Top 10 though, with Boston Celtics head coach Doc Rivers tied at fourth at $7 million annually with a trio of NFL head coaches — Seattle’s Pete Carroll, St. Louis’ Jeff Fisher and Washington’s Mike Shanahan.

New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin ($6.67 million), new Philadelphia Eagles head coach Chip Kelly ($6.5 million), and San Antonio Spurs head coach Greg Popovich ($6 million) round out the Top 10.

Belichick also placed second in 2010, behind then-Los Angeles Lakers head coach Phil Jackson, before taking over the top spot in 2011 and 2012.

Rep. John Fresolo issued a statement that was read on the House floor Wednesday saying he could no longer effectively serve his district.

The statement did not indicate what prompted the decision. Fresolo did not immediately return phone calls and emails requesting comment.

Related: Fresolo Investigated For Serious Allegations

“I am currently unable to effectively serve my district and regretfully submit my resignation, effective immediately, hoping that a prompt special election will be held to fill the balance of my term,” Fresolo’s statement read.

Fresolo told The Telegram & Gazette on Wednesday that the resignation was part of a negotiated settlement with the House Ethics Committee.

Fresolo declined to discuss the nature of the settlement saying that under House rules investigations by the Ethics Committee are confidential.

The Worcester Democrat also told the newspaper he had never intentionally violated House rules as a member.

House Republican Leader Brad Jones said the Ethics Committee should forward any information from their investigation to the appropriate agencies for further review.

Fresolo has served since 1999.

(TM and © Copyright 2013 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

#2 San Antonio vs #5 Memphis

Game 1 — Sun, May 19, Memphis 83, San Antonio 105

Game 2 — Tue, May 21, Memphis 89, San Antonio 93 (OT)

Game 3 — Sat, May 25, San Antonio at Memphis 9 PM ET

Game 4 — Mon, May 27, San Antonio at Memphis 9 PM ET

Game 5 – Wed, May 29, Memphis at San Antonio- Time TBD

Game 6*– Fri, May 31, San Antonio at Memphis- Time TBD

Game 7*– Sun, June 2, Memphis at San Antonio- Time TBD

Eastern Conference

#1 Miami vs. #3 Indiana

Game 1 — Wed, May 22, Indiana at Miami  8:30 PM ET

Game 2 — Fri, May 24, Indiana at Miami 8:30 PM ET

Game 3 — Sun, May 26, Miami at Indiana 8:30 PM ET

Game 4 — Tue, May 28, Miami at Indiana 8:30 PM ET

Game 5*– Thu, May 30, Indiana at Miami- Time TBD

Game 6*– Sat, June 1, Miami at Indiana- Time TBD

Game 7*– Mon, June 3, Indiana at Miami- Time TBD

DETROIT (AP) — Jimmy Howard’s cat-quick reflexes in net and easygoing nature out of it are big reasons the Detroit Red Wings are on a roll.

Howard has held top-seeded Chicago to only one goal in two straight games, lifting seventh-seeded Detroit to a 2-1 series lead. He was the star of the end-to-end, high-paced Game 3 the Red Wings won 4-1 on Monday night, when he became their first goalie to face at least 40 shots without giving up more than a goal in the playoffs since Greg Stefan did it 1987.

“That was probably the fastest playoff game I’ve ever been a part of,” Howard said. “I expect it just to get faster Thursday night. They’re going to step it up. We need to come even harder.”

Detroit will host Game 4 on Thursday night, shooting for a surprising win that would put Chicago on the brink of elimination.

Howard’s glove, pads and mindset give the Red Wings a shot to win every time they put on sweaters with winged wheels. Since Detroit trailed second-seeded Anaheim 3-2 in the first round, Howard has won four of five games and is averaging two goals against and 34-plus saves.

“You have to have a good goalie to go anywhere in the playoffs and we have it,” Red Wings captain Henrik Zetterberg said.

The Blackhawks seem confident they also have a netminder good enough to finish their season as strong as it started. Lately though, Corey Crawford has been shaky — or at least he hasn’t been able to overcome enough of his teammates’ mistakes in front of him.

Crawford won five of his first six games in the playoffs, shutting out Minnesota once and allowing a total of eight goals during his strong start. But he has given up a combined seven goals over the last two games after allowing one goal in the first period of the series opener.

When Chicago began its season-opening run of 24 games with at least a point backup goalie Ray Emery was 10-0 during the NHL record-breaking stretch while Crawford was injured. Emery finished the regular season 17-1 with a 1.94 goals-against average, leaving his last outing early because of a lower-body injury nearly a month ago at Edmonton.

Is Emery an option for Game 4?

“We’re not talking about that right now,” Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said Monday night. And the next day, he was succinct when asked to assess how Crawford has played the past few games.

“He’s been fine,” Quenneville said.

The Blackhawks probably don’t want to put more pressure on Crawford, but they were likely looking for more than him being “fine” in his third postseason as their No. 1 goalie.

Chicago couldn’t afford to keep Antti Niemi after he was the franchise’s backstop when it hoisted the Stanley Cup in 2010 and he beat out Marty Turco for the job the next season.

Crawford has been an impressive 82-40-18 the last three regular seasons, but a lackluster 10-11 in the playoffs. The Montreal native sounds as if he’s ready to bounce back to help the team respond well enough to avoid their first three-game losing streak since the 2011-12 season.

“We haven’t had a lot of adversity this year,” Crawford said. “We just have to dig deep and battle.”

The Red Wings, meanwhile, barely made the playoffs and they leaned on Howard a lot because their team was challenged offensively because of injuries and the retirement of Nicklas Lidstrom.

Howard had to play in 42 of 48 games during the lockout-shortened season because he didn’t have a healthy, or capable, backup for much of the season. He was 21-13-7 and tied for the league lead with five shutouts, leading to him getting a $31.8 million, six-year contract to keep him off the market as a free agent this summer.

Like Crawford, Howard has been really good during the regular season — for four seasons as a No. 1 goalie — and average in the playoffs with a .500 record going into Game 4.

In a town where the goalie is in the spotlight, win or lose, Zetterberg said Howard has the perfect temperament for the job.

“Nothing really bothers him,” Zetterberg said. “If he lets in a goal, he just flushes it and moves on.”

___

Follow Larry Lage on Twitter: http://twitter.com/larrylage

(© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

Police say the accident involved two tractor trailers. No injuries were reported. The right lane of I-93 was closed due to the accident.

Police are investigating the incident

Federal prosecutors said Edward MacKenzie Jr. was arrested at his Weymouth home Wednesday after being indicted on charges including racketeering and extortion.

The 54-year-old MacKenzie was the director of operations at the Boston Society of the New Jerusalem Church, which is affiliated with the Swedenborgian denomination.

Federal authorities said MacKenzie was appointed to the salaried position in 2003 and “began to systematically loot the church of its considerable financial assets through a combination of fraud, deceit, extortion, theft and bribery.” He also allegedly threatened other church members.

A message could not be left on MacKenzie’s home voice mail. It’s not clear whether he has a lawyer.

Gresh & Zo opened Wednesday’s show breaking down the Bruins Game 3 win over the Rangers.

Has New York packed it in? Anyone left ripping Claude Julien for playing the fourth line so much?

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) —Brent Burns helped San Jose jump off to a fast start with his second goal of the postseason and the Sharks tied their second-round series against Los Angeles at two games with a 2-1 victory over the Kings in Game 4 on Tuesday night.

Logan Couture followed up his overtime game-winner in Game 3 with his fifth power-play goal of the playoffs to add to the lead and Antti Niemi made 22 saves as the Sharks matched the Kings’ two home wins to open the series with two of their own.

Mike Richards scored a power-play goal and Jonathan Quick made 21 saves for the Kings, who have lost 10 of 11 road games dating to the end of the regular season.

Game 5 is Thursday night in Los Angeles when the Sharks will look to end a streak of four straight wins by the home team in this series.

After falling behind 2-0, the Kings showed some fight in a dominant third period. They got on the scoreboard on a power play when Burns was sent off for boarding Anze Kopitar.

Los Angeles wore down San Jose’s penalty killers in the offensive zone and scored when Richards knocked in a rebound of Jeff Carter’s shot.

The Kings outshot the Sharks 14-2 in the third period, holding San Jose without a shot for nearly 13 minutes but couldn’t get the equalizer against Niemi.

Couture gave the Sharks a 2-0 lead early in the second period, deflecting a point shot by Dan Boyle past Quick while Colin Fraser was in the penalty box for roughing Andrew Desjardins in the offensive zone.

The Kings started to generate the better scoring chances after that, getting denied a goal midway through the period on an early whistle by an official. Los Angeles was unable to generate a shot on goal during two power plays later in the period with Jake Muzzin, shooting high with an empty net to cost the Kings a golden opportunity at a goal.

The Sharks opened the game with one of their most dominating periods of the year to the delight of the boisterous crowd chanting “Beat L.A.! Beat L.A.!” from the start.

But San Jose had only one goal to show for that start thanks to solid play from Quick and a shot by Tommy Wingels that rang off the crossbar.

Led by the physically imposing line of captain Joe Thornton, Burns and TJ Galiardi, the Sharks spent almost the entire first period in the Los Angeles zone, outshooting the Kings 15-3 for the period.

San Jose jumped on top early when Thornton stole the puck from Slava Voynov on the forecheck and fed Burns, who shot was blocked. Thornton came up with the loose puck and slid a perfect cross-ice pass to Burns, who was not denied on his second chance, beating Quick with a one-timer for his second playoff goal.

The Kings had to feel fortunate that was all San Jose managed for the period as they killed off two penalties and withstood constant pressure from the Sharks.

(© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

On Tuesday I went over the Knicks’ financial situation for the next three years, so keep that in mind as we go through the offseason decisions that the Knicks will have to make.

Here are where the pivotal points are going to be.

1) J.R. Smith: The one good thing about Smith’s mediocre … no, wait … awful playoff performance is that he might have played himself out of a contract that would take him out of New York. If Smith opts out of his contract, the most that the Knicks can offer him is about four years and $22 million, and that should be enough. Smith’s other option is to activate his player option, which will pay him a measly $2.8 million next year, but will give the Knicks full Bird rights on him the following offseason when they could pay him more money long-term. Either scenario would give Smith to the Knicks at below or at market value. He has too much talent for the Knicks to simply let him walk. To me, this is a no-brainer as it won’t cap the Knicks out for future seasons, and if Smith walks they have no money to get someone of equal talent.

2) Chris Copeland and Pablo Prigioni: The Knicks can put a qualifying offer on both those players, but if I’m reading the collective bargaining agreement properly, every dollar they sign them for above 120 percent of last year’s salary will eat away at their mini mid-level exception. Both guys will be 20-minutes-a-game players next year, but remember that the Heat got Ray Allen with their small mid-level last year. Is it better to bring back one or both, or go after a veteran in free agency? This is going to be Glen Grunwald’s toughest decision this offseason. Of course, there’s a decent chance that Prigioni goes back to Spain, which will make Grunwald’s decision easier. In a perfect world, the Knicks get them both back.

3) Kenyon Martin: He sat on the free-agent market all year. Nobody wanted him for anything more than the veteran’s minimum. The jury is out on whether he played himself into a bigger contract. I think that the Knicks will be able to bring him back at a bargain and not lose much, if any, of their mid-level exception.

4) The Old Guys: Will Jason Kidd retire? He played like he has already. He’s looked retired for a while now. After the Pacers series, I thought he would call it quits, but apparently he wants to play a couple of more years. If he comes back, his time on the court will be limited. Marcus Camby is signed for two more years as well, and there is no sign that he is contemplating retirement because of his plantar fasciitis. Can Camby again be the player that he was in 2011-2012? If he can, losing Martin won’t hurt nearly as much. He can at least provide a defensive and rebounding presence.

5) The Injured Guy: Amar’e Stoudemire is signed for two more years for about $50 million. He is always hurt. No team will take him in a trade until he is an expiring contract. He is not going anywhere this year, unless Grunwald has mind-controlling powers. Stoudemire’s health and ability to blend in with the team is one way that the Knicks can make a serious improvement next season. You can’t expect him to be healthy, but you can hope. Either way, he will be a part of this team.

6) The First-Round Pick: The Knicks do have a first-round pick this year. In a year in which the draft is considered to be very week, I could see the Knicks trying to package the pick with a mid-sized contract for someone who another team considers overpaid, but still talented. This is an asset that the Knicks need to use one way or another.

7) The Mini Mid-Level Exception: This is the one weapon that the Knicks have to use in free agency, and they have to make it count. Being a 54-win team, they should be able to attract a free agent who can crack the rotation and play a significant role. If Smith, Copeland and Prigioni all come back, a two-way big man who can not only contribute defensively and on the boards, but on offense as well, could be a target. Another target should be an athletic wing who can help make the Knicks run more. If Prigioni, Copeland or Martin leave, finding a replacement for them might be the order of the day.

The Knicks have to find a way to get better this season. They are going to have to get creative to do that, but last year Grunwald showed the ability to do that. The Knicks have a great pipeline to Europe, and Grunwald does a good job managing  the details of the salary cap. With Carmelo Anthony potentially opting out after next season, this year is important for the Knicks to take another step closer to a championship. It starts in the offseason.

I’m taking off until the NBA Finals, the draft and free agency. Enjoy the conference finals, everyone!

You can follow me on Twitter @Schmeelk for everything Knicks, Giants and New York sports. 

You May Also Be Interested In These Stories

• Buchholz Goes To 7-0, Red Sox Beat White Sox 6-2
• Felger & Mazz: May 22, 2013
• The Baseball Reporters: May 22, 2013
• Seidenberg On Game 4 Return: ‘There’s A Chance’

“I know I’m blessed to be going to the Eastern Conference finals for my fifth time,” Wade said. “But I would like a lot more in my career. It’s a good thing. We’ve been very successful in my tenure here. But I want more.”

For Wade and Udonis Haslem, this marks five East finals appearances in nine years. For LeBron James, it’s a fifth trip to this round in the past seven years, now three straight with Miami after a pair of trips to the East finals with Cleveland.

On the flip side, the Indiana Pacers haven’t been to the conference finals in years and only one player on the team has ever even played in a conference finals game. Backup center Ian Mahinmi played 71 seconds in a game in the 2011 Western Conference Finals.

Still, the Pacers have no fear when they look at the mountain that is the Miami Heat standing in their path to a bid in the NBA Finals. The Pacers won two of three meetings against the Heat this season and both teams expect the series to be physical.

For the Heat, the key will be managing the Pacers’ big men around the basket. Indiana lines up 7’2” center Roy Hibbert and 6’9” power forward David West and will want to attack Miami’s lack of bulk down low.

Last year, the Heat countered the Pacers by utilizing a smaller lineup that ended up propelling Miami to the NBA championship. The Heat will have an added weapon this year in the form of center Chris Bosh who missed much of last year’s playoff run against Indiana.

What Bosh will do is challenge Hibbert to either leave the lane and cover him on the outside, or, leave the Heat center open for jumpers on the outside. If Hibbert chooses the former, he opens up lanes for LeBron James and Dwyane Wade to attack. If Hibbert stays inside, then he allows Bosh to attack with his jump shot.

Defensively, the Heat’s big challenge will be to keep West from getting going down low while also protecting the perimeter against Paul George and George Hill in check on the outside.

The Pacers’ starting lineup includes George, West, Hibbert, Hill, and guard Lance Stephenson. The Pacers will be without forward Danny Granger for the rest of the playoffs.

The Heat will counter with its traditional starting lineup of LeBron James, Udonis Haslem, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, and Mario Chalmers. Miami doesn’t have anyone listed on the injury report, but Wade’s knee will be an issue for the rest of the playoffs.

If Wade is near 90 to 100 percent, the Heat may be unstoppable when it comes to the Eastern Conference Finals and the NBA Finals. However, if Wade is not able to play at his normal level, Miami could be vulnerable against a young and improving Pacers squad.

The tipoff for Wednesday night’s Game 1 is expected to happen around 8:30 p.m. and can be seen either in person at the AmericanAirlines Arena or on television on TNT.

That change could be coming sooner rather than later, but the team will give Ellsbury his fair chance to get out of the slump that has plagued him for much of the first quarter of the season.

“I’ve consider it yes, but we’re sticking with him giving him the opportunity to get out of the situation he is in now,” Farrell said prior to Tuesday night’s 3-1 loss in Chicago. “But I can say this: Whether he’s hitting first or hitting somewhere else in the lineup, there are still things we have to address and he has to address, and those are ongoing.”

Gammons On Toucher & Rich:Should Sox Move Ellsbury Down In Order?

Ellsbury went 1-for-3 on Tuesday night with a single and a walk, boosting his season batting average to .242. For the month of May, the Sox leadoff man is batting just .185 (15-for-81) with eight walks, good for a .267 OBP. Ellsbury has just two extra base hits in 19 games this month, and just 12 for the season.

“He’s in a situation where he’s working to do what he can to get out of this, and we’re working there with him. This isn’t a matter of effort, it’s a matter of maybe being a little more free of mind and letting that natural ability take over,” said Farrell.

The Red Sox were expecting big things from Ellsbury at the top of their lineup this season, especially with him facing free agency in the off-season. Should this be a season-long slump it could cost Ellsbury quite a bit of money when he heads to the negotiating tables with agent Scott Boras, but Farrell doesn’t think off-season plans are what’s getting in Ellsbury’s way right now.

“To say that’s the sole reason, no, I wouldn’t say that’s the issue that he’s dealing with right now,” said Farrell. “I also know that he’s human, and he understands where he’s at in his career and what’s ahead of him. But the point we continually try to make is the routine of today is the most important point and that’s the focal point.”

Read: Iglesias Starts First Game At Third Base For PawSox

Farrell said the discussions of moving Ellsbury in the lineup are ongoing, but Boston doesn’t have many options at leadoff. Shane Victorino would be a likely candidate to take over for Ellsbury, but he is dealing with a hamstring issue that kept him out of Tuesday’s loss. Victorino has missed three of the last five games, missing two games in Minnesota over the weekend with bask spasms.

Dustin Pedroia is another candidate, with 320 career at-bats at leadoff. Pedroia has only hit .253 with a .318 OBP from the one-spot, but has scored 51 runs and 39 of his 81 hits have gone for extra bases in the small sample.

So, for now at least, Ellsbury will remain atop the Boston lineup.

LYNN (CBS) — Firefighters battled a massive 3-alarm blaze at a church early Wednesday.

The fire broke out at the Seventh Day Adventist Church on Liberty Street just after 5 a.m.

Firefighters evacuated a nearby apartment building because of smoke from that fire.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030′s Carl Stevens reports

There are no reports of injuries or what may have caused the fire.

The roof of the church collapsed in the blaze and the church will likely need to be demolished, according to Lynn Fire.

A church member told WBZ NewsRadio 1030′s Carl Stevens they have had problems with break-ins at the church in the recent past.

But John Tortorella’s message isn’t going to change even though his Rangers are in an even more desperate situation than before their latest loss to the Boston Bruins.

The margin of error went from slim to none in an uncharacteristic home loss that put the Broadway Blueshirts on the brink of elimination.

New York squandered a one-goal lead in the third period and lost 2-1 on Tuesday night to fall into an 0-3 series hole. The Rangers can be ousted by the Bruins as early as Thursday in Game 4 at home.

“We’ll meet (Wednesday), practice, and we’re going to try to win a game,” Tortorella said. “That’s all you can do. Down 3-0, it’s a very tough situation, but I have full faith in our athletes. They will be ready to play another game.

“You try to win one and see where you go from there.”

After two losses in Boston, the Rangers seemed headed toward getting back into it. They had won nine straight at Madison Square Garden, dating to the final six games of the regular season, and hadn’t lost in regulation when leading after two periods in more than three years.

But defenseman Johnny Boychuk tied it 3:10 into the third and Daniel Paille scored the winner with 3:31 remaining to push the Bruins to the verge of the Eastern Conference finals.

Only three NHL teams have rallied from an 0-3 hole to advance. However, the Philadelphia Flyers did it to the Bruins in 2010.

“We haven’t talked about history at all,” Tortorella said. “We just try to go about our business.”

Bruins coach Claude Julien discussed it briefly, but only when asked about the collapse three years ago and another near one in the first round this year when Toronto nearly eliminated Boston after trailing the series 3-1.

“We can talk about it all we want, but that’s in the past,” Julien said. “We had to live with that and we still have to live with that.”

The Bruins did some rallying of their own in that one, erasing a three-goal deficit in the third period of Game 7 before winning in overtime.

“The Toronto series, I didn’t think our team was in the zone the way it is right now,” Julien said. “I anticipate — knowing my team — that we’re going to come out the same next game and certainly not be the Jekyll and Hyde team that we were in the first round.”

The Bruins shook off the 2010 collapse and swept Philadelphia in the conference semifinals the following year before going on to win the Stanley Cup.

The Rangers haven’t been swept since New Jersey did it to them in 2006 in the first round.

“You can’t look at it as you have to win four games,” said Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist, who stayed down on his knees for several moments after Paille’s goal. “You just have to focus on the next one. The season is on the line, so you have to leave everything out there.

“We definitely have to give everything right now, mentally and physically, and put it out there on Thursday.”

Boychuk tied it with his fourth of the playoffs after he netted just one in 44 regular-season games.

Boston thought it had grabbed the lead seconds before Paille scored when a shot deflected off the mask of Lundqvist, popped up in the air and landed on the goal line. Lundqvist couldn’t find it before Paille swooped in from behind the net and poked in the puck.

Taylor Pyatt had made it 1-0 in the second period for the Rangers, who were outscored 8-4 in two games at Boston. Lundqvist was sharp in making 32 saves. He bounced back well after allowing five goals in the Game 2 loss.

“You have to be pretty happy with the situation right now,” said Tuukka Rask, who made 23 saves for Boston. “We were really happy with our effort. I think this was our best defensive effort in a long, long time. We just have to stay calm, keep playing our style of hockey, and good things will happen.”

The Rangers again couldn’t get their power play untracked, failing in both of their chances and dropping to 0-for-10 in the series. New York has only two power-play goals in 38 opportunities during these playoffs.

Boychuk was credited with the tying goal after the puck appeared to deflect into the net off Rangers defenseman John Moore.

The game turned rougher moments later when New York forward Chris Kreider was struck under his visor by the stick of Boston’s Tyler Seguin, who was following through on a shot just inside the blue line. Seguin was then clipped in the exchange by the stick of Rangers defenseman Steve Eminger.

Shortly after, Bruins forward Patrice Bergeron had a cut over his eye that left his white jersey bloodstained. No penalties were called on any of the plays.

New York took just its second lead of the series 3:53 into the second period when Pyatt deflected in a shot by defenseman Ryan McDonagh.

Lundqvist shined in the second, making a pad stop on Seguin about 6 1/2 minutes in, stretching across to knock away a drive by rookie defenseman Torey Krug — who scored in each of the first two games of the series — and then bringing the crowd to its feet with a lunging glove snare of Gregory Campbell’s slap shot from the left circle with 8:24 remaining.

That got the Bruins even in shots (15-15) before they outshot New York 8-1 the rest of the second.

The Rangers got off to a sluggish start after losing the opening faceoff, and didn’t mount any kind of early surge fueled by the excited home crowd. New York didn’t carry the puck into the Boston end until 1:35 had elapsed.

New York got trapped in its end more and more as the game went on, and got caught there again on the winning goal.

“They just kept us in the end zone, bouncing around, and Paille beat our defenseman back to the net and scored the goal,” Tortorella said. “We just didn’t spend enough time in their end zone.”

The Rangers picked up their play and built a 6-1 edge in shots, including scoring opportunities on Rask. New York earned the first power play of the night, however it was as ineffective as it has been throughout the postseason.

The tide turned back to the Bruins’ favor just before the midway point in the period, starting with a partial breakaway after New York turned over the puck at the Boston blue line. Chris Kelly raced ahead with the puck and was stopped in tight by Lundqvist when he tried a backhanded shot.

Shawn Thornton was also denied when he came in alone on Lundqvist with 8:46 left in the period, and Jaromir Jagr couldn’t score, either, when he got a pair of whacks at the puck that the New York goalie turned aside.

The Bruins’ surge gave them an 8-7 edge in shots, but Boston finished the period trailing 11-9.

“We were down but we weren’t playing that poorly,” Bruins captain Zdeno Chara said of the team’s third-period mindset. “We needed to stay aggressive, try to tie the game. We just wanted to get pucks to the net. We did that and we were rewarded.”

NOTES: The Rangers didn’t yield a power-play chance for the second straight home game. … New York D Anton Stralman was injured in the second period and didn’t return. … Since Boston trailed 4-1 in Game 7 against Toronto, Rask has allowed five goals in four-plus games.

You May Also Be Interested In These Stories

• Buchholz Goes To 7-0, Red Sox Beat White Sox 6-2
• Felger & Mazz: May 22, 2013
• The Baseball Reporters: May 22, 2013
• Seidenberg On Game 4 Return: ‘There’s A Chance’

(TM and © Copyright 2013 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

The resident, who lives near the Auburn town line, reported the bear sighting to Leicester Police, and officers were dispatched to the home and stayed at the scene until Massachusetts Environmental Police arrived.

The bear stayed in the back yard for a while then went into a wooded area, according to police, who added residents should go to a safe location if they encounter a black bear.

The state Division of Fisheries and Wildlife website offers the following tips to deter encounters with bears: don’t feed bears, bring in bird feeders between April and November, secure trash in secure containers placed in outbuildings such as a garage, and pen lifestock in or near a barn at night.

In Massachusetts, black bears are active during the daytime in the spring and fall, with sightings most common around dawn and dusk in the summertime, according to the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife.

Down in Pawtucket, the 23-year-old has started taking grounders at second and played third base on Tuesday night — the first time Iglesias has played a position other than shortstop since becoming a member of the Red Sox in 2009.

“You see a guy that’s a very capable defender that we want to get exposure to other places in the event that if we do happen to take a look at him being in that utility role at some point this year,” said Boston manager John Farrell. “We still view him as an everyday shortstop, but in the interim, we’re trying to prepare for the potential of coming and filling that role.”

Gammons On Toucher & Rich: Should Sox Move Ellsbury Down In Order?

“It’s in the event that something might happen to someone, to just prepare as best we can if he comes to us in a role that might call on the versatility.”

Iglesias committed an error in his debut at the hot corner, and singled and walked at the plate. Overall he is batting .209 with four home runs and 15 RBIs in 32 games.

Read: Red Sox Fall To White Sox 3-1

The Red Sox currently have Pedro Ciriaco as their utility man, who is batting just .183 in 19 games this season. Ciriaco has seen action at short (8 games), third base (4 games) and second base (2), committing an alarming six errors in 36 chances.

With Iglesias getting some experience at other positions, he may soon find himself back in the majors as Boston’s utility infielder.

Pending results of an environmental impact study, Pease will be the first Air National Guard unit to receive the next generation tanker, the senators said. The Air National Guard’s 157th Air Refueling Wing is stationed at the base.

“This is great news for Pease and the dedicated members of the 157th Air Refueling Wing,” said Shaheen and Ayotte, who serve as chairwoman and ranking member, respectively, on the Senate Armed Services Readiness Subcommittee. “We’re thrilled that the Air Force recognizes Pease’s many strategic advantages as well as the 157th’s exceptional record of service. We’re confident that Pease will continue to provide the best air refueling support in the Air Force for decades to come.”

Col. Paul Hutchinson, commander of the 157th Air Refueling Wing, said flying the new tanker aircraft out of Pease would provide a boost to the local economy.

“When the final decision is made in the spring of 2014, we expect (an) additional 100 or more full-time jobs at Pease representing approximately 7 million dollars in additional direct payroll into the Seacoast economy and approximately 45 million dollars in military construction contracts over the next several years,” Hutchinson said in the senators’ prepared statement.

The criteria cited in today’s Air Force announcement reflect Pease advantages Shaheen and Ayotte presented to Pentagon officials for more than a year and a half, including Pease’s existing active-duty refueling unit and strategic location in a region of high air-refueling demand. Pease competed for the new tanker against 82 other installations and four other finalists, the senators said.

Pending successful completion of the environmental review, Pease is slated to get 12 of the new tankers beginning in fiscal year 2018, according to Shaheen and Ayotte.

Peter Gammons joined 98.5 The Sports Hub’s Toucher & Rich to discuss the Red Sox, Jacoby Ellsbury and Terry Francona returning with his rolling Cleveland Indians.

Jacoby Ellsbury entered Wednesday hitting .242 with a .307 on-base percentage, which places him among the worst leadoff hitters in the game. Do you remove Ellsbury as leadoff hitter? Is Ellsbury hurting his chances of cashing in during free agency? Will a Sox put in a qualifying offer?

Former Sox manager Terry Francona is heading to town with his Cleveland Indians for a series with the Sox starting Thursday. The Indians are having quite a bit of success. What is Francona doing with his new team?

With Game 3 tied 1-1 in the third period, Boston turned to it’s fourth line — dubbed the “merlot line” — for an injection of energy. The line’s havoc had already led to Boston’s first goal — a rocket off the stick of defenseman Johnny Boychuk — and their strong forecheck and desire to cause a downtown-like traffic jam in front of the net put Boston on top for good with just 3:31 left to play.

Gregory Campbell stepped up and delivered a slapper on Henrik Lundqvist, which deflected off the netminders mask and straight up in the air. When the puck returned to the ice it danced along the line, but changed directions before crossing into the goal. It looked as though it had taken a Rangers’ bounce, as Lundqvist had no idea where the puck was.

It nearly trickled out of harm’s way.

That was until Daniel Paille rushed in and took a swing at it, sending it to the back of the net and putting Boston on top 2-1.

“I felt the pressure when we were on them and had a perfect view of it from the corner. I thought it was going to bounce in but it went the other way somehow,” Paille explained after the game. “Lundqvist didn’t know where it was and I was able to come around the net and out-battle the player with it; I think we hit at the same time and it hit off my stick and went in.”

After less-than-stellar showings in Games 1 and 2, Lundqvist was on his game Tuesday night. He was stuffing breakaway bids and turned away nearly all rebounds, so those funky goals were Boston’s best chance to put one — or two — past him.

“It was one of those nights where he was on his game and you could see the confidence he had throughout the game,” said Paille. “The goals that went in, there really wasn’t much he could do; there was a screen on one and a redirect on another. We tried to do as much as we could but it wasn’t going to be one of those where you beat him clean.”

Now Boston finds themselves one win away from returning to the Eastern Conference Finals for the second time in the last three seasons. But after nearly letting a 3-1 lead slip away last series to the Toronto Maple Leafs, and that 2010 collapse against the Philadelphia Flyers still in the back of their minds, the Bruins know their work is far from over.

“We’re confident going in for the series, but it’s not over. I’ve been in this situation before and seen it go the other way,” said Paille. “For us, we have to have the instinct to play as hard as we did tonight. They’re going to be a team that does not want to lose that way.”

Game 4 is Thursday night in New York.

Tune in to every Bruins playoff game on 98.5 The Sports Hub — the flagship station of the Boston Bruins! Pregame coverage begins 30 minutes prior to each game.

98.5 The Sports Hub Bruins play-by-play announcer Dave Goucher joined Toucher & Rich to discuss the Game 3 win over the Rangers, the great play of the young defensemen, the play of Henrik Lundqvist and the health of Dennis Seidenberg.

“The only reason it was a game to me was that Lundqvist was as good as he was. I mean the first period it could have been 3-0 and the fact they [Bruins] were able to stay with it even though they were down one nothing after two and then come out and score two in the third period,” said Goucher of last night’s game.

“I didn’t think it was really that close of a game, I know they only won by a goal and I know they needed a goal late from Daniel Paille, but they were real good, real good last night.”

Rangers coach John Tortorella has been heavily criticized for the way he’s handled his team and many speculate that he’s lost his players. If the Bruins pull off the sweep on Thursday will Tortorella be out of a job?

The guys also discussed the injury to Dennis Seidenberg and whether there is any word on his status. If Seidenberg is ready to go which young defenseman gets scratched? With the way the youngsters have been playing it might be a harder decision than one might think.

“It would be great. I sort of like Boston/Providence,” Kraft told reporters in Boston on Tuesday. “This is where it all started. Right here.”

Kraft said he was a big supporter of Super Bowl XLVIII being held in New York/New Jersey next year, and if all goes well it could make it easier for his pitch for a Super Bowl at Gillette.

“We would love one day to hold it here if it’s a good experience there,” Kraft said. “We’re looking forward to seeing this experience in New York and New Jersey.”

“I hope we can be in the game,” said Kraft. “We like playing in cold weather.”

Having a Super Bowl at Gillette though would require cooperation between Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

“Part of what it will require is political people in Boston and Providence coming together so we could really have the right number of hotel rooms and have the support,” he said. “It would require cooperation from all of the political folks who would have to gather together and want this and come together, like they do in other parts of the country.”

“I’d rather be in the game than attract it here though, that’s going to be our priority,” said Kraft.

After the New York/New Jersey Super Bowl, the game will be held in San Francisco and Houston, so the earliest New England could see a big game of their own would be in 2018.

Indianapolis, which hosted Super Bowl XLVI, has already entered the bidding process for 2018.

The warm and humid air will be locked in place from the get-go tomorrow so expect a muggy day with highs in the upper 70s to middle 80s with more clouds than sunshine. The axis of action with many showers and boomers will reside over eastern NY and western New England. The eastward translation of this moist conduit will be retarded by the evolution of a closing and deepening upper level low pressure system over the Mid-Atlantic region late Thursday and Friday. This development will produce a surface storm that is destined to make slow progress across our area through Saturday into Sunday. This is indeed a very disappointing change in what earlier on Monday had looked like a beautiful holiday weekend. I guess that I jinxed it yesterday when I stated that I hoped that I wouldn’t have to change the forecast today or tomorrow. With weather on a holiday weekend,  Murphy’s Law that “anything that can go wrong, will go wrong” applies. With all of this said, it is still not a high confidence forecast just yet. It is based upon the solution of the most reliable mathematical model that we examine. There is always room for an adjustment in this scenario with perhaps a faster exit out of the area by that storm. In any event, as it stands now, I am planning on occasional showery weather through at least Saturday when highs will be in the middle to upper 50s! That is a real bummer for the so-called official kickoff of the summer season. Just remember that I am only the messenger! Memorial Day looks to be the sunniest with some patches of afternoon clouds possible and highs near 70 degrees. It’s all about timing because next Tuesday and Wednesday look beautifully sunny and warmer.

Todd Gutner posts his blog early this evening and I shall return early tomorrow morning.

Make it a great day!

Commuter rail service from Connecticut to New York City, along with Amtrak service between Boston and New York, was back on schedule on one of the nation’s oldest and most heavily traveled railways.

Aaron Donovan, a spokesman for Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which operates Metro-North, said there were no major problems or delays reported.

“Trains are running normally,” he said. “We’re back at full strength, a full schedule on the New Haven line for the first time since Friday.”

The Metro-North crash at rush hour Friday evening injured 72 people, including one who remained in critical condition Tuesday. It snarled commutes for roughly 30,000 people who normally use the train, forcing travelers to navigate a patchwork of cars, trains and buses.

The repairs will require a reduced speed of 30 mph for several days, which officials say is standard for new track installations. Donovan said that was extending the travel time by only a few minutes.

“We recognize the critical importance of both Metro-North Railroad and Amtrak to the regional economy,” Metro-North President Howard Permut said Tuesday.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the accident. Officials have said they are looking at two sections of rail found at the crash scene which appear to have broken apart, to determine if the damage occurred during or before the crash.

Robert Kulat, a spokesman for the Federal Railroad Administration, told the Connecticut Post that Metro-North inspected the tracks on May 15, two days before the accident, and found they were properly aligned, and the wood, steel and other construction materials were in good shape.

Donovan could not confirm the inspection, referring all questions on the investigation to the NTSB.

The tracks have been rebuilt to current Federal Railroad Administration standards using all new materials and underwent rigorous testing, officials said. Railroad officials said the speed of the rebuilding effort was the result of hundreds of skilled people in multiple crafts working around the clock since Saturday night.

Connecticut lawmakers plan hearings about the crash on the rail network they say is in need of extensive improvements.

Members of the General Assembly’s Transportation Committee said they have been briefed by state transportation officials over the years about the hefty investment Connecticut needs to make to fully upgrade the commuter rail line, including a couple of 100-year-old bridges that need to be replaced.

Some commuters used a shuttle train that ran between New Haven and Bridgeport, where a bus connection to Stamford circumvented the accident scene, and finally customers boarded a train for New York.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.

What you don’t know about the medicines you are giving your kids can do them more harm than good. While your first line of defense should always be a call to the pediatrician, here is a list of some medicine cabinet don’ts you should know before treating your child’s cold at home.

• Aspirin – This common staple can be fatal to children, even in small doses. Aspirin has been linked to Reye’s Syndrome and can also cause a wide variety of symptoms, including lethargic behavior or conversely, agitation, nausea, seizures and vomiting.
• Over-the-counter pain relievers – Over-the-counter pain relievers are used to bring down fever and calm muscle aches. They include ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and acetaminophen (Tylenol) but can also be purchased under a variety of other brand names. Never give your child an adult-strength pain reliever as their dosages will typically exceed the recommended children’s level. And never give a child any medication containing codeine, a dangerous narcotic which can cause serious or even fatal complications. It may be hard to just let a fever run its course but sometimes, that is the best thing you can do for your child. Always check with your doctor and let them know how high your child’s fever is in order to get the best recommendation for either treating it or leaving it alone.
• Nasal sprays – Never use an over-the-coutner or prescription nasal spray on your child without a doctor’s approval. Nasal sprays can cause agitation, spike blood pressure and cause dizziness, particularly when combined with other medications used to treat colds. Some nasal sprays have also been linked to reduced growth in childhood. A sterile saline solution may be just as effective in relieving sinus pressure and is a whole lot safer for little noses.  
• Over-the-counter cough and cold medicine – Both the FDA and drug manufacturers urge parents not to give children under the age of two over-the-counter cough and cold medicine. The risk of side effects outweighs potential product benefits, as medications such as cough suppressants, cough expectorants, decongestants and antihistamines have little positive effect on children’s cold symptoms. No child of any age should be given any type of adult medication, including cough and cold liquids or tablets. If you do have to administer a child-safe liquid medicine to your child, make sure you only use the enclosed measuring spoon to avoid giving a dose that is too large or too small.
• Muscle rubs – Muscle rubs like Vicks Vapor Rub and Tiger Balm can feel very soothing to a sick child, but are not benign. These products typically contain camphor, which if accidentally ingested or applied too liberally can be toxic, causing the rapid onset of seizures and in some cases, death. Never use a muscle rub on a child under the age of two and check with your doctor before you use it on children under the age of 12.   
• Holistic medications – Don’t assume a product is safe simply because it is all natural. Holistic medications such as oil of wintergreen, used for headache, fever and sore throat, can easily be over applied or accidentally ingested. A mere teaspoon can be the equivalent of a potentially lethal dose of baby aspirin. Check with your doctor before you use any holistic medications and never combine them with other medications unless you have a physician’s approval.

No matter what you reach for when your child is sick, make sure that it, and all of the other medications in your home, are out of the reach of little hands. Child-resistant caps can buy you time but are not fool-proof. Make sure your medicine cabinet is locked at all times, even if the children in your life only come over to visit.

If your child does accidentally ingest something inappropriate, is given the wrong dosage of a medication, or if you simply suspect that they have swallowed something they shouldn’t have, call poison control at 1-800-222-1222 or 911 immediately. A wait-and-see attitude can cost precious time or even a child’s life.

Corey Whelan is a freelance writer in New York. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.

And maybe, some day off in the distant future, we’ll have a full accounting of exactly what happened, why it happened, who knew or didn’t know about it, when they knew, and so on.

Listen to Jon’s commentary:

In the meantime, we are left to rely on our common sense.

It seems that’s a lot easier for the protagonists in this case.

I went down to Government Center yesterday to report on an anti-IRS protest by local Tea Party activists, and talked with a grandmother from Brookline who said she was there to help preserve the America she knew “as an immigrant…[a place] for freedom of speech. Now we have to be afraid to talk, afraid of what people think of us.”

Moments later, an IRS employee pulled me aside and told me the protestors were crazy, that the real villain was the new campaign finance laws that opened the door to tax-exempt status for political groups that didn’t deserve to have it.

Both of these people were going with their gut, and rallying around their own flags. And I suspect there may be some truth in what both of them are saying.

Most government workers that I’ve ever met are not raging ideologues, or even harsh partisans. They mostly leave the attack politics to the politicians.

But the Tea Party woman is not delusional. There is very little the pols in power won’t do to cement their hold, and so far the administration’s explanations of what happened are as permanent as a Cape Cod sand dune.

Final judgment should probably be reserved until all the facts are in, but common sense should tell you this is not headed for a happy ending.

You can listen to Keller At Large on WBZ News Radio every weekday at 7:55 a.m. and 12:25 p.m. You can also watch Jon on WBZ-TV News.