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Bourque and Tokarski Send the Habs back to New York |
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Facing elimination for the third time in these playoffs, the Canadiens pulled out a very dramatic win in front of their home fans to push the New York Rangers to a sixth game.
Rene Bourque, who scored nine goals in 63 regular season games, popped goals six, seven and eight of his playoffs to continue authoring a potential bid for the Conn Smythe Trophy.
After taking a 4-1 lead less than halfway through the game, the Canadiens surrendered three quick goals to send all their fans into a panic. And then Bourque came through with the winning goal on an excellent play by Lars Eller and Dale Weise, and the Canadiens came out in the third determined to take the series back to New York.
The game featured some real nastiness, from John Moore's blindside headshot to Weise, to Derek Dorsett's headbutt to Mike Weaver's face. Eller, Weise and Bourque pushed back at the end of the game, and this rivalry is officially boiling over.
The Canadiens, led by Dustin Tokarski, have a single opportunity to extend their post-season with a win in New York Thursday; a chance to bring this series back to the Bell Centre, where the fans helped will them to victory last night.
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1) A good friend of mine--Harley Switzman--texted me last night to remind that not a word had been uttered about the possibility that Brian Gionta and Andrei Markov were playing their final games as Habs last night.
None of that was mentioned ahead of games six and seven vs. Boston, and that situation is status quo moving forward in this series.
You wonder what teams rally around in elimination situations, and if these vets weren't on the team's mind, surely thoughts had passed through those of Markov and Gionta.
Both made tremendous contributions to the win last night.
2) We're witnessing the NHL birth of Alex Galchenyuk. He's had some dazzling moments thus far, but the level he's playing at--coming off injury--is superb, and he's provided a real booster shot to the team's energy.
The goal he scored to open the game blew the roof off the Bell Centre. The play he made on Plekanec's goal was made with poise.
Galchenyuk's skill shines through. His skating ability, his hockey sense, his hands, they are a display of finesse no team wins without.
3) You can't win without a Brendan Gallagher on your team either. The play Montreal's sparkplug made on Pacioretty's goal epitomized his determination.
When you think about these two sophomores in Gallagher and Galchenyuk, to know that the hockey world is at their toes instead of their heels is to realize what kind of future the Canadiens have.
This year is a massive stepping stone to the next level. This playoff experience for this young team is indelible. Nathan Beaulieu and Michael Bournival are benefiting too. But don't forget about Max Pacioretty and David Desharnais, who are each getting a real taste of what it takes at this time of year.
4) The game within the game is about Mike Weaver's five blocked shots, and an even rating through 19:33 of ice-time with Andrei Markov. He slotted in perfectly after Alexei Emelin was lost to injury. It's about Subban's 30+ minutes of ice, +3. It's about Markov's three assists. It's about Weise's courage, and when he nearly fell, Subban picking him up. It's about Tomas Plekanec taking a stupid penalty, and making up for it with a big shot-block out of the box, and that goal he scored wasn't bad either! It's about Desharnais getting an empty-netter after winning 65% of his faceoffs, including the one that allowed the Habs out of their zone, setting up his goal.
This is a team.
5) Last word goes to Tokarski. He gave up three goals in roughly five minutes, and he was hardly to blame for any of them, and yet, he never got down on himself. It didn't even seem as though nerves bubbled to the surface. He refocused. He made some huge saves in the game, none bigger than one on Carl Hagelin, who was set up perfectly by Martin St. Louis, and he has given the Canadiens the hope they could've easily lost with Carey Price's injury.
Tokarski represents another unheralded move by Marc Bergevin--at least in the moment--and his story is a great one to follow right now.
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • 
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