RANGERS VS CANADIENS GAME 1 EASTERN CONFERENCE QUARTER-FINALS

RANGERS VS CANADIENS GAME 1 EASTERN CONFERENCE QUARTER-FINALS

By: Matthew Blittner

Rangers 2, Canadiens 0:          4/12/17        Bell Centre

WELCOME! TO THE STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS!

An Eastern Conference first round matchup featuring two Original Six teams with 90 plus years of history between them.

And for those of you who weren't born back then, it is also a rematch of the 2014 Eastern Conference Finals, where the Rangers won the series in six games.

But the major story here, is the potential melodrama involving Chris Kreider of the Rangers, and Carey Price of the Canadiens.

When these two teams last met in pursuit of Lord Stanley's Chalice, Kreider crashed the net during Game 1 of the series, and in doing so, tore up Price's knee, ending his series, and by extension, the dreams of the Canadiens' and their fans.

If any media outlet is to be believed, the Montreal faithful are out for blood and will be on high alert anytime Kreider should enter the Montreal zone. 

Should be interesting!

OVERVIEW:

The teams came out hard and fast, and Lundqvist was on his game early as he made a a terrific stick save on a Dwight King shot at 3:40 of the first to set the tone for the game.

At 4:15 Brendan Gallagher was called for tripping Marc Staal, granting the Rangers their first power play of the game.

After successfully killing off the Rangers' power play, Montreal would get their first bit of sustained pressure in the Blueshirts' zone, but Henrik Lundqvist looked sharp and made a flurry of saves, none bigger than a glove save on a hellish shot off the stick of Alexander Radulov at 7:13 of the first.

Surprises can sometimes work! As Oscar Lindberg won a face-off in the Montreal zone, Tanner Glass got the puck and surprised Carey price with the shot and scored for the early 1-0 lead at 9:50 of the first, an unassisted goal.

The teams traded pressure after the early goal, and both Price and Lundqvist were up to the task, especially the King who looked to secure his throne against Price. 

Andreas Martinsen and Shea Weber both got off high-difficulty shots on the King at 14:47 and 14:58 of the first. However, Lundqvist first made a pad save and then didn't know where the puck was, only for Shea's shot to come through traffic and Lundqvist to hold on tight to the puck.

Montreal would then force Ryan McDonagh to take an interference penalty on Max Pacioretty at 15:39.

Then just as the Rangers had almost killed off McDonagh's penalty, Brendan Smith took a high-sticking penalty against Artturi Lehkonen at 17:35.

The teams came out hard and fast and from there it got a bit hot under the collar as the chippiness was evident from the start. Just getting to the bench for players was perilous. The period saw three penalties called, two against the Rangers. And Montreal outshot New York 16-5.

Talk about coming out with a head of steam! The rangers came out to start the second period with their best offensive pressure in weeks.

Ryan McDonagh, JT Miller, Mats Zuccarello and Derek Stepan all got grade A- shots on Price from 3:18 to 3:45 of the second period, but price stopped them all.

Jesper Fast would follow that up by hitting the post off a deflection, and Zuccarello and Brady Skjei both put shots on Price as the Rangers' early period barrage continued.

In the first six and a half minutes of the second period, the Blueshirts were outshooting Montreal 5-0 in the period.

At 6:53 of the second, Jimmy Vesey had a grade A chance as he deflected a Dan Girardi shot on net and Price made a great one-handed glove save to keep the puck out of the net.

Brendan Smith and Jesper Fast then continued the assault with Grade A+ scoring chances, but could not finish as Price kicked out the left leg to keep both shots out of the net.

Through the first 10 minutes of the second, the Rangers were outshooting the Canadiens 10-1 for the period.

Lundqvist wasn't tested early on, but a Nick Holden blue line turnover resulted in Montreal's best offensive showing of the period, and at 13:40 Jordie Benn got a shot on net that Hank made a spectacular save on by kicking out the pad to prevent the puck from going into the empty net.

Then at 14:37 JT Miller took a delay of game penalty for the Rangers' third penalty of the game.

Montreal would come right at them as Max Pacioretty forced Henny to made a left leg save and then another huge pad save on a shot from the ever dangerous Shea Weber at 15:34.

The teams would then skate four-aside as Alex Galchenyuk was called for playing the puck with his hand at 15:36 of the second.

To add on, the Rangers would then get a two man advantage power play for a minute as Brendan Gallagher was called for holding Ryan McDonagh at 16:29.

The second period ended with the teams trading chances and the Rangers still clinging to a 1-0 lead after 40 minutes of play.

The Rangers started the third period with an immediate scoring chance as a combination of Chris Kreider's hustle and Ryan McDonagh's shot through traffic forced Price to make an off balance save in the opening minute.

Lundqvist was then forced to make a kick save on a shot by Max Pacioretty at the 1:00 mark of the third.

At 6:28 of the third, Hank once more robbed Dwight King by coming up out of his crease for the big glove save.

Lundqvist then made another glove save with seven minutes remaining in the third as he was expecting the express and got the local from Artturi Lehkonen as he was falling down due to getting hit by his own player. 

Phillip Danault was then called for tripping Brendan Smith with 5:40 to go in the third period.

Montreal would then successfully kill off the penalty as the Rangers were 0-for-4 on the power play.

Michael Grabner would then seal the game with an empty net goal with 1:10 remaining in the game for the 2-0 lead.

WHAT WENT RIGHT:

1. KING HENRIK: The King sat atop his throne as he pitched a 31-save shutout and made several spectacular saves en route to the 1-0 series lead.

2. 4TH LINE IS FIRST: The line of Lindberg-Fast-Glass was their best line and Glass scored the opening goal, which would prove to be more than enough for Lundqvist as he teamed with the defense to prevent the Canadiens from penetrating his net.

3. PENALTY KILL: A perfect 3-for-3 on the penalty kill was a major reason why the Blueshirts walked away with the W.

4. ROAD WARRIORS: The NHL's best road team in the regular season, continued that trend to start the playoffs with a 1-0 win in what has been deemed their "House of Horrors." 

HIGHLIGHTS:

BEST SAVE PERIOD 1: After successfully killing off the Rangers' power play, Montreal would get their first bit of sustained pressure in the Blueshirts' zone, but Henrik Lundqvist looked sharp and made a flurry of saves, none bigger than a glove save on a hellish shot off the stick of Alexander Radulov at 7:13 of the first.

BEST SAVE PERIOD 2: Montreal would come right at them as Max Pacioretty forced Henny to made a left leg save and then another huge pad save on a shot from the ever dangerous Shea Weber at 15:34 of the second.

BEST SAVE PERIOD 3: Lundqvist then made another glove save with seven minutes remaining in the third as he was expecting the express and got the local from Artturi Lehkonen as he was falling down due to getting hit by his own player. 

BEST GOAL PERIOD 1: Surprises can sometimes work! As Oscar Lindberg won a face-off in the Montreal zone, Tanner Glass got the puck and surprised Carey price with the shot and scored for the early 1-0 lead at 9:50 of the first, an unassisted goal.

BEST GOAL PERIOD 2: No goals were scored in the period.

BEST GOAL PERIOD 3: Michael Grabner would then seal the game with an empty net goal with 1:10 remaining in the game for the 2-0 lead.

TURNING POINT:

Surprises can sometimes work! As Oscar Lindberg won a face-off in the Montreal zone, Tanner Glass got the puck and surprised Carey price with the shot and scored for the early 1-0 lead at 9:50 of the first, an unassisted goal.

WHAT THEY SAID:

MATTHEW BLITTNER: "It's only one game, but take it one game at a time, and while it wasn't always pretty they got the job done in Game 1."

COMING ATTRACTION: The Rangers' next game will be Game 2 of their Eastern Conference First Round matchup against the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre on Friday April 14th. Coverage Begins at 6:00pm.          Game Time: 7pm      TV: MSG Networks or NBSCN.

BOTTOM LINE: The Rangers were outplayed in the first period, but they came out of it with the 1-0 lead. When they came out of the first intermission to start the second period, the Rangers dominated play for 10 minutes and that set the tone for the rest of the game.