Saturday, April 22, 2017

Atlantic Division Playoffs: 1) Montreal Canadiens VS. 4) New York Rangers

It's playoff time in 2017, as the NHL's quest for the Stanley Cup begins. This series features the Atlantic Division Champion Montreal Canadiens and the wild card New York Rangers.

Game 1: Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec. In goal: Henrik Lundqvist for the Rangers and Carey Price for the Canadiens. New York opened in the first period with an unassisted Tanner Glass goal. The Rangers iced it at 2-0 in the third period with a Michael Grabner empty net goal, set up by Jesper Fast. The three stars were Lundqvist (31 save shutout), Glass, and Price (29 for 30 in saves). The Rangers have a 1-0 series lead.

Game 2: Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec. In goal: Henrik Lundqvist for the Rangers and Carey Price for the Canadiens. Montreal started in the first period with a Jeff Petry goal, guided in by Phillip Danault and Alexander Radulov. New York tied it on a Michael Grabner goal, his second of the postseason, going in unassisted. The Canadiens took the lead back with a Paul Byron goal, helped along by Brendan Gallagher and Tomas Plekanec. The Rangers tied it on a Rick Nash goal in the second period, passed from Jimmy Vesey and Nick Holden. New York took the lead with a Mats Zuccarello goal, fueled by Brendan Smith and Derek Stepan. Montreal tied it again in the third period with a Plekanec goal, with helpers provided by Radulov and Alex Galchenyuk. The Canadiens won 4-3 in overtime with a Radulov goal, made possible by Max Pacioretty and Shea Weber. The three stars were Radulov, Plekanec, and Lundqvist (54 for 58 in saves). The series is tied at 1 as it goes stateside.

Game 3: Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York. In goal: Carey Price for the Canadiens and Henrik Lundqvist for the Rangers. Montreal got going in the second period with an Artturi Lehkonen power play goal, powered by Brendan Gallagher and Tomas Plekanec. The Canadiens added on in the third period with a Shea Weber power play goal, with assists provided by Alex Galchenyuk and Alexander Radulov. Montreal extended the lead as Radulov scored his second of the postseason, thanks to Phillip Danault. New York got on the board with a Brady Skjei goal, made possible by Kevin Klein and Mika Zibanejad. This only made it 3-1, the final, with the three stars given to Radulov, Weber, and Price (20 for 21 in saves). The Canadiens now have the series lead at 2-1.

Game 4: Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York. In goal: Carey Price for the Canadiens and Henrik Lundqvist for the Rangers. New York led off in the first period with a Jesper Fast goal, going in unassisted. Montreal tied it on a Torrey Mitchell, goal, via Shea Weber and Alexander Radulov. The Rangers took the lead with a Rick Nash goal, his second of the postseason, guided in by Ryan McDonagh in the second period. This held up for a 2-1 win, with the three stars being Nash, Lundqvist (23 for 24 in saves), and Fast. The series heads north again tied at 2.

Game 5: Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec. In goal: Henrik Lundqvist for the Rangers and Carey Price for the Canadiens. Montreal began in the first period with an Artturi Lehkonen goal, his second of the postseason, via Nathan Beaulieu and Alex Galchenyuk. New York tied it on a Jesper Fast shorthanded goal, his second of the playoffs, set up by Mika Zibanejad. The Canadiens took the lead back with a Brendan Gallagher power play goal, powered by Andrei Markov and Lehkonen. The Rangers tied it in the second period with a Brady Skjei goal, his second of the postseason, made possible by Rick Nash and Jimmy Vesey. New York won 3-2 in overtime with a Zibanejad goal, with a lone assist by Chris Kreider. The three stars went to Zibanejad, Lehkonen, and Skjei. The Rangers head home with a 3-2 series lead. 

Game 6: Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York. In goal: Carey Price for the Canadiens and Henrik Lundqvist for the Rangers. Montreal struck first in the first period with an Alexei Emelin goal, via Alexander Radulov and Artturi Lehkonen. New York tied it on a Mats Zuccarello power play goal, his second of the postseason, made possible by Mika Zibanejad and Ryan McDonagh in the second period. The Rangers took the lead on Zuccarello's second of the game and third of the playoffs, with helpers from Kevin Hayes and J.T. Miller. New York iced it at 3-1 with a Derek Stepan empty net goal in the third period, set up by Girardi. The three stars were Zuccarello, Lundqvist (27 for 28 in saves), and Stepan. The Rangers take the series 4-2, advancing to the Atlantic Division Finals. 

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