Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli ready for disappointment before Bergeron led unprecedented comeback

Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins players shake hands after overtime in Game 7 of their NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series in Boston, Monday, May 13, 2013. The Bruins won 5-4. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) (The Associated Press)

Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron, right, is embraced by teammate Zdeno Chara, left, after scoring the game winning goal off Toronto Maple Leafs goalie James Reimer during overtime in Game 7 of their NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series in Boston, Monday, May 13, 2013. The Bruins won 5-4. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) (The Associated Press)

BOSTON – Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli says he was preparing for disappointment before his team pulled off its remarkable comeback.

He says he was thinking ahead to what the next few days would be like until Boston started its third-period rally and beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-4 in overtime of Game 7 of an NHL first-round series Monday night.

The Bruins became the first team to win a playoff game after trailing by three goals in the third period.

Now they face the New York Rangers in the Eastern Conference semifinals starting Thursday night in Boston.

Chiarelli said he had no update on injuries to veteran defensemen. Andrew Ference and Wade Redden missed Game 7 and Dennis Seidenberg played just 37 seconds before leaving with a left leg injury.