Two goals from Mats Zuccarello and stellar play from Henrik Lundqvist lifts the New York Rangers past the Montreal Canadiens in six games.
- New York Rangers 3 (4-2)
- Montreal Canadiens 1 (2-4)
- Stanley Cup Playoffs, Round 1
- Game 6, Final, Box Score
- Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
It’s done. The New York Rangers have defeated the Montreal Canadiens by the final of 3-1 in game six at Madison Square Garden. They will now be moving on to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs to face either the Ottawa Senators or Boston Bruins.
Mats Zuccarello scored twice in the second period, first to tie the game and then to represent the game-winner.
After a few anxious moments and great saves by Henrik Lundqvist, Derek Stepan ended it with a flip from his own end that found its way into the empty-net:
The series-clinching, sigh of relief, smiles all-around goal from Derek Stepan. Enjoy it Rangerstown. #NYR pic.twitter.com/BAyv196j6u
— Elite Sports NY (@EliteSportsNY) April 23, 2017
The first team to strike was the road club. On a hard-working effort by Alexander Radulov, Alexei Emelin sniped one past Henrik Lundqvist:
Elimination games require great starts. The @CanadiensMTL have that going.@shawz15er approves as well. #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/lPgHzNOECV
— NHL (@NHL) April 23, 2017
The Rangers, though, were not deterred. In fact, once the first period was over and done with, they carried the majority of the play.
Like previously mentioned, Mats Zuccarello not only tied it up for the Blueshirts, he tallied the one that put them on top in the third period.
First, he used his feet to capitalize on the power play after Ryan McDonagh and game five hero Mika Zibanejad set it up:
The captain, Zibs, Zuccarello … Power play, 1-1 game. #NYR pic.twitter.com/PAY1xvnIE3
— Elite Sports NY (@EliteSportsNY) April 23, 2017
Then, over 11 minutes later, the Norwegian pest struck again, this time courtesy of a hard-working effort by Kevin Hayes:
Mats Zuccarello, AGAIN. Kevin Hayes not only made the pass, but kept the play alive. 2-1 New York Rangers. #NYR pic.twitter.com/3LrnAECMrL
— Elite Sports NY (@EliteSportsNY) April 23, 2017
Henrik Lundqvist was steady again. All told, he stopped 27 of 28 Habs shots. Carey Price managed just 20 saves on the night.
New York will now rest after a hard fought series victory against the physical team.
Game Notes:
- Kevin Hayes, after struggling for most of the series, was phenomenal in game six. He set up the game-winning goal and won a few key draws.
- Again, Brendan Smith was a physical presence in front of the net.
- Ryan McDonagh led the team yet again in all facets of the game.
- Habs captain Max Pacioretty was held scoreless for the entire series. This was certainly a reason for the Habs lack of offensive success.
- Andrew Shaw missed game six due to injury. It seemed as though the Rangers, not the Habs turned out to be the more physically imposing squad despite better efforts from the Canadian club.
Did Hank just squirt him with the water bottle? Regardless, Dan Girardi destroyed, and rightly so, Brendan Gallagher. #NYR pic.twitter.com/8C0cinQ57m
— Elite Sports NY (@EliteSportsNY) April 23, 2017
Look below for a stick save in its purest form ?. #StanleyCup #MTLvsNYR pic.twitter.com/Uh3wWficC4
— NHL (@NHL) April 23, 2017
Together #Blueshirts fans sing the goal song @TheGarden after Zucc's goal!! #HeyHeyHeyHeyHey ? pic.twitter.com/U1CNkNfma5
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) April 23, 2017
ZUUUUUUUUUUCC!!!! #Blueshirts tie it up!! pic.twitter.com/VFV1HKzkte
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) April 23, 2017
