Montreal Canadiens Playoffs Game 15 Away game 8 | Sunday May 25, 2014 | Rangers lead third round series 3-1 |
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Game Recap:The Canadiens had three first period power-plays but were down 1-0 at the end of 20 minutes after giving up a short-handed goal. Despite scoring one goal, the Habs power-play was dreadful going 1-for-8 and registering just eight shots on goal. Despite an abundance of power-play time, the trio of David Desharnais, Max Pacioretty and Thomas Vanek was anemic. With the number 1 centre losing 72 percent of his draws, the Habs were constantly chasing the puck. In addition there were breakdowns from a defensive top-4 who are looking fatigued from logging too many minutes and, without Carey Price to help move the puck, are getting punished by forecheckers. Plus / Minus ▲ Dustin Tokarski, Brendan Gallagher, Brian Gionta, Alex Galchenyuk, Daniel Briere ▼ Thomas Vanek, P.K Subban, David Desharnais, Max Pacioretty, Michael Bounival |
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Boxscore:
| FINAL | 1 | 2 | 3 | OT1 | – | T |
| Canadiens | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | – | 2 |
| Rangers | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | – | 3 |
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Shots on Goal:
| FINAL | 1 | 2 | 3 | OT | – | T |
| Canadiens | 11 | 5 | 8 | 5 | – | 29 |
| Rangers | 9 | 11 | 6 | 3 | – | 29 |
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| Post-game Press Conference |
- “We got a few chances to move the puck out of our end and it cost (us) the game.”
- “We had opportunities on the power-play but we didn’t take advantage of it tonight. Yes, we scored a goal. It was the tying goal, but we gave up one, and that was the [difference] in the game. Our power play has to be better.”
- “I thought 5-on-5 we were playing well, we got some chances. But we still have to battle hard.”
Captain Brian Gionta
- “This series isn’t over. By no means are we counting ourselves out. It’s a tough loss. It’s a bitter loss. But at the end of the day we’re still in this series.”
- “We played a pretty decent game, and we’ve just got to keep building. As this series has gone on, we’ve gotten better, we’ve been able to get more chances.”
- “Obviously we would have liked to get that win, but we’re not out of this yet.”
Forward Alex Galchenyuk
- “I’m disappointed. I could have ended the game right there, and it would have been 2-2 heading back to Montreal. Unfortunately, we lost, but I can’t overthink about that play. I have to try to make a difference next game.”
Defenseman P.K. Subban
- “We walked in the room here and a couple of guys said that we’re going to put this behind us and get ready for a bigger game come Tuesday. We did a lot. We had a lot of opportunities, but pucks didn’t go in. There is a lot of hockey left to be played, and we just have to be prepared to go home and play a good game.”
- “We had a couple of opportunities where the puck bounced back the other way; things happen. We’re not too focused on [the loss] now. We have a quick turnaround here, so we have to put it behind us and get ready for the next game.”
- “It’s the playoffs, and teams aren’t going to give you two and three power-play goals a game; guys are bearing down and willing to block shots. You hope for a bounce and to get pucks to the net. You hope for a tip and hope for it to go in. But it’s hard to score two or three power-play goals in a game. It’s a game of mistakes, and the team that makes the least amount of mistakes is usually the team that wins.”
Goalie Dustin Tokarski
- “Playing good isn’t enough. You have to be great. [Lundqvist] was really good on the other end and got the win.”
- “It was a good hockey game. It’s unfortunate we were on the losing end.”
- “[Martin St. Louis] got the puck with a little bit of time and he just picked the corner.”
- “It’s not a great feeling right now, but we need to get it out of our system and get back to work tomorrow. We have to win a hockey game.”
Rangers forward Carl Hagelin
- “We were definitely undisciplined. We took a few too many tripping and high-sticking calls. The refs are always going to call those. We have to play smarter.”
- “Got a little lucky there (Galchenyuk’s shot.) It hit my stick and then the crossbar. I wasn’t sure if I got enough of the shot.”
- “It’s exciting to know that you’re one game away.”
- “You have to get to a level where you help the team, and that’s a pretty good motivation there.”
Rangers head coach Alain Vigneault
- “It was us. It was us. They were penalties. You can’t do that.”
- “The goal [St. Louis] scored is exactly what you see him practice every time he’s on the ice, like a hundred pucks. He’s trying to put it right there. He made, obviously, a great shot on that goal.”
To look back at the full lineups for tonight’s game, check the Game Day preview.
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