The logos on the front of the visitors’ jerseys may have changed, as have the faces and names on the back, but a return to TD Garden ice for the first time since Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals brought about the same results for Tuukka Rask and the Boston Bruins.

Heading back to the Hub following a much needed split in Chicago, the Bruins’ efforts, particularly in the defensive zone could be described in one word -- stifling.

Imposing their will in the final two frames and throughout much of the overtime in a successful comeback at United Center back in Game 2, those same efforts were brought to the rink from the opening drop of tonight’s contest in Boston, even if the discipline wasn’t.

Despite controlling the pace of play in the opening five minutes of play, outshooting Chicago 7-to-2 at one point, it would be two roughing penalties against Bruins’ fourth liners -- one against Kaspars Daugavins (9:57 into the period) and one to Shawn Thornton (14:15 in), that’d keep the Blackhawks in this one through 20 minutes.

Knotted up at 0-0 after one, with Boston holding a slight advantage in shots (11-10), the second period would once again prove to be the crucial frame for the Black-and-Gold, and one that they once again found themselves as the aggressors in. Gifted with three power-plays, and nearly doubling the ‘Hawks in the shot department, it would be a continued barrage of pressure from the Bruins’ new-look third line of Danny Paille, Chris Kelly, and Tyler Seguin that’d break through first, as Paille struck with his fourth of the season.

Locked in a matchup of strength vs. strength -- with the Boston and Chicago top-six absolutely beating each other to death -- it’s been the Bruins’ third line that’s been the beneficiaries of its toll.

“Our top lines haven't scored that much five-on-five either. It's the Kelly line that gives us that goal five-on-five,” Boston head coach Claude Julien said after the game. “Right now it just seems that both teams are very aware of the other team's top players. Playing a chess match right now.”

But the Bruins’ assault on Chicago’s Corey Crawford continued when a slightly expired 5-on-3 power-play gave the 41-year-old Jaromir Jagr just enough daylight to dish it across the slot and to Patrice Bergeron, who struck with his seventh dagger of the postseason.

And on a hot streak like no other right now, it’s all the 26-year-old Rask would need, as he stonewalled another 10 shots from Chicago in the third period, and finished the night with 28 saves, good for his third shutout in his last seven contests.

Bergeron, Bruins dominate the dot

Want to know the number one way to lose a game against the B’s? Struggle at the dot.And honestly, ‘struggling’ may be putting it lightly when it comes to the Blackhawks’ efforts off the faceoff last night.

As Boston won 40 of 56 faceoffs on the night, it was a complete decimation against Chicago’s better centermen that made this one an absolute possession smokeshow, and it began with No. 37.

Finishing the night 24 of 28 at the dot -- an 86% success rate -- Bergeron was simply a menace in all three zones, and against the top two centers of the ‘Hawks no less. Winning eight of 10 draws against Chicago captain Jonathan Toews, and eight for eight against Michal Handzus, where Bergeron came most handy was in the defensive zone, where he finished 10 of 13 on the night, refusing to give the Blackhawks any chance to build continuous momentum.

It didn’t stop with Bergeron, either. Third line center Chris Kelly, clearly awake from his four-round nap, went eight for 11 at the dot (and seven for nine in non-offensive zone draws), while fourth line center Rich Peverley was four for six.

You’re not beating the Bruins if you can’t get the puck. Period.

Third line continues to bring the heat

For three rounds, the Black-and-Gold really got nothin’ from their third line. Scoring one goal in the first round (Rich Peverley), and with Tyler Seguin striking once in the Bruins’ five-game series win over the New York Rangers, albeit on the ice with the Bruins’ power-play unit and not his normal linemates, it appears as if Chris Kelly’s slump-busting goal in Boston’s Game 2 victory has been the perfect medicine as Boston’s new-look third line is simply flying.

Striking with another big goal last night, once again coming off Danny Paille’s stick, the trio of Paille, Kelly, and Seguin -- three players with ridiculously different skill-sets -- have brought about a completely unpredictable attack towards Crawford and company with each shift.

Absolutely loaded with speed on the wings, and a responsible game in the middle, you’ve seen the line’s effectiveness bolstered by not only Kelly’s regained confidence, but an understanding of what’s needed to win from the 21-year-old Seguin. Oft criticized as one of the more ‘immature’ Bruins (especially from yours truly), what you’ve seen in this series from No. 19 has been a true coming of age happening, not in the ‘Whoa, look at how he’s scoring’ sense, but rather his ability to battle.

It’s something you really didn’t see too much in the first three rounds -- not on a consistent basis anyways, and it’s been the number one difference-maker in that line’s potency.

Late scratch to Hossa proved crushing for ‘Hawks

Apparently bothered by an existing injury heading into the night, an unsuccessful pregame warmup for Chicago top-liner Marian Hossa left coach Joel Quenneville and the Blackhawks scrambling for a replacement in their top-six. The answer? Ben Smith, a player that played in just one game during the Blackhawks’ highly successful 48-game campaign this year.

Yeesh.

Of course, that’s not to dump on the 24-year-old winger that had a goal in that one game, and who entered play with three goals in seven career playoff contests (all played back in Chicago’s series loss to the Vancouver Canucks in 2011), but he’s no Hossa.

Nobody among the Hawks’ normal crew of healthy scratches could be Hossa.

And that’s something you undoubtedly saw.

The put it all in very obvious, undeniable terms: The ‘Hawks looked like a team that had no clue what the hell they wanted to do with their lines. Naturally, once the deficit was two, you saw more of a superstar-laden attack that often featured Patrick Sharp, Patrick Kane, and Jonathan Toews together, but before that? My goodness, it was a ragtag group if that.

You saw Toews play with Michael Frolik and Marcus Kruger quite a bit, while Kane was bogged down once more with the sl0w-skating Handzus, and as Viktor Stalberg returned to the lineup only to be juggled up and down just about every line humanly imaginable.

The ‘Hawks, like any team, missed the veteran know-how of the 34-year-old Hossa.

But the juggling wasn’t necessarily a panic move according to the Chicago bench boss, but rather an effort to create four lines that could pressurize and eventually broke through the tight-checking defense of the Boston Bruins. “I didn't mind the lines. I didn't mind our start,” Coach Q said after the loss. “I thought we had balance [with our lines].”

Updated as day-to-day, and with a potential 3-1 hole awaiting them after Game 4, it’ll be interesting to see just how Quenneville and company adjust if they’re without Hossa once more.

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